
H. H. LEHMAN, V. S. 



LEHMAN'S 

POULTRY DOCTOR. 



A* 



A Treatise on Poultry Diseases, written in plain 

Language for the Farmer and 

Poultry Raiser. 



BY- 



DR. H. H. LEHMAN 

A Graduated Veterinary Surgeon of vast experience with Poultry 

and their Diseases, and ex-secretary of the Veterinary 

Associations of the Detroit College of Medicine 

and of the Indiana Veterinary College. 



A* 



With ideal illustrations of leading breeds of poultry, also 
an Appendix of a number of important subjects* 



Published by the author, 



COPYRIGHTED 1909 
BY 

H. H. LEHMAN. 



PRESS OF HAMILTON PRINTING CO. 
ASHLAND, OHIO. 



CI. A 

SEP 8 1909 



CI.A251381 



PREFACE. 

BOOKS dwelling absolutely on poultry diseased, 
written in plain language by veterinary medical 
authors, are few. 

The present book is an effort to at least partially fill 
this gap. In compiling this small book, the writer en- 
deavors to base it on sound medical facts, such as can 
be obtained from the best veterinary writers of this 
country as well as from foreign authors, and from his 
own experience, and to give it in such language that 
the common poultry-raiser may be able to compre- 
hend it. 

The description and treatment on the several poultry 
ailments will be as brief and practical as it is possible 
to make them, and yet do justice to the immense poul- 
try industry. 

The following authors have been freely consulted: 
The Diseases of Poultry, by D. E. Salmon, D. V. M. ; 
Prof. Law's Veterinary Medicine; Friedberger & 
Frohner's Pathology and Therapeutics of the Domestic 
Animals; Chauveau's Comparative Anatomy; Win- 
slow 's Materia Medica, and numeroiis others treating 
on Veterinary Medicine and Poultry Raising. 

The author also desires to record this obligations to 

his preceptor, Dr. jSilliert .Hesa,..pif Ashland, Ohio, 

for valuable information, 

H. H. L. 



CONTENTS. 



SUBJECT. PAGE 

PREFACE 

CHAPTER 1.— Introduction 7 

CHAPTER 2.— Diseases of the Respiratory 

Organs 12 

CHAPTER 3.— Diseases of the Digestive Organs. 25 

CHAPTER 4. -Diseases of the Heart 49 

CHAPTER 5.-Diseasesof the Nervous System. 51 

CHAPTER 6.— Diseases of the Kidneys and Or- 
gans of Reproduction 55 

CHAPTER 7. -Diseases affecting Various Organs, 65 

CHAPTER 8. -Diseases Pertaining to Surgery. . 73 

CHAPTER 9. -Diseases Affecting the Skin 77 

CHAPTER 10.— Vices or Habits 84 

APPENDIX 87 




White Plymouth Rocks. 




Buff Plymouth Rocks. 




CHAPTER 1. 



Introduction. 



Causes of Diseases — Germs and Disinfectants — Require- 
ments Essential to health — Hospital. . 



IT is said, "If we had a perfect knowledge of the 
laws of life and applied this knowledge in a per- 
fect system of hygienic rules, disease would be impos- 
sible." In order to apply this to fowls it is very nec- 
essary to have some conception of the cause and 
nature of the several diseases, as well as of the best 
methods of assisting nature in overcoming them. The 
condition of the fowl in its natural state should be 
considered, and the food should be of such a variety as 
to imitate nature as much as possible; this is especially 

7 



8 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

essential where fowls are kept in confinement, and in 
attempting this, meat should be supplied, since, in the 
natural state, insects, worms, etc., are eaten in 
abundance. 

Grit, in form of gravel, broken stone or even dishes, 
oyster shells, old plaster, etc., must also be supplied. 
Why? Because such are used as millstones or grinders 
between the strong, muscular walls of the stomach, 
and render the food capable of being digested and 
assimilated. Green food, as well as a variety of 
grains, are also essential. 

Medicine is usually administered in the food or 
drinking water, but may occasionally be made into a 
ball or pill and introduced back into the throat, or it 
may be given in a small amount of water, poured 
slowly out of a spoon or small bottle. 

Medicine is usually prescribed in grains, drops, drams 
or ounces, and, occasionally, pounds. 

Approximately, a grain, of powdered drugs equals 
about a large grain of wheat; a dram, a level tea- 
spoonful, while a tablespoonful equals one-half ounce. 
This, however, varies considerably, as such drugs as 
sulphate of iron are very heavy, while others, as pow- 
dered quassia or quinine are light. 

CAUSES OF DISEASES. 

The first essential step in treating disease is to seek 
and remove the cause. In order to do this it is neces- 
sary to understand something about the common 
causes of disease. 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

If there is any disorder of the organs of digestion, 
the nature of the food, the amount given, etc., must 
be looked into; whether grit is supplied and whether 
the fowls have sufficient exercise. 

If the respiratory organs are the seat of trouble, 
investigation must be made as to ventilation, whether 
sufficient, or whethsr not in such a way that the fowls 
are in a direct draught, and whether the floor is not 
damp or whether there is no draught along the floor. 

If there is a general outbreak of some infectious 
disease, such as cholera, roup, etc., the general sani- 
tary conditions must be looked after. 

Lice so debilitate fowls that they may be regarded 
as an indirect cause of a great many diseases. Allow- 
ing fowls to become too fat will cause such troubles as 
apoplexy, congestion of the liver, diseases of the ova- 
ries, inability to walk, etc. 

GERMS AND DISINFECTANTS. 

Since science proves that a great many diseases are 
due to germs, disinfectants must be understood and 
used. 

The principal factors in developing germs are filth 
and moisture, with the proper temperature. They do 
not develop well in too high or too low temperature, 
such as below 70 or above 110 degrees Fahr. 

Sunlight is a most excellent germ destroyer, and it 
is therefore very essential to admit plenty of this in 
poultry houses. 

There are a number of good disinfectants; one 
among the best for the poultry raiser is carbolic acid, 



10 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

one paund dissulved in three gallons of water. This 
makes an excellent solution for spraying the inside of 
hen houses, washing the roosts, floors, etc. 

This strength mixed with lime makes an excellent 
white-wash. 

For fumigating, sulphur burned in a tightly closed 
bouse is very cheap and effectual; this must be done 
while the fowls are out. 

To get the best results from sulphur fumes, steam 
should be combined with the fumes. This can be done 
by setting a vessel in the room, containing boiling or 
steaming water, or, better still, have a vessel contain- 
ing water boiling over a large lamp or small oil stove. 

A cheap disinfectant for yards is sprinkling occa- 
sionally with air-slacked lime. 

REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL TO HEALTH. 

Conditions for the maintainance of health are very 
necessary, because it is far better to maintain, than 
to rely upon measures to regain, health. 

A fowl is a machine of much higher tension than 
Buch animals as the horse or ox. This is readily seen 
when the fact is taken into consideration that the fowl 
breathes more rapidly, has more rapid circulation and 
higher temperature (normal 107 to 109 degrees), and 
digests more food in proportion to its weight; there- 
fore proper care is all the more essential. 

In the first place, the location for the poultry hous© 
and mm should be high and whereth^re k good dfuln- 
ag^. A sight that slopes east, south or south-east 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

is best. A spring or small stream of water at the foot 
of the incline makes a very desirable place. 

The house should be roomy and, if possible, should 
face the south and be provided with large windows. 
Ventilation should be provided but direct draughts 
•must be avoided. 

The food must be wholesome, not mouldy, and of 
sufficient variety; and last, but not least important, 
strict cleanliness must be observed about the poultry 
premises. 

HOSPITAL. 

No poultry raiser should be without a hospital, or 
place where sick fowls can be properly cared for and 
treated. Such a place should be away from any an- 
noyance, as cats, dogs or even other fowls, and should 
be arranged so that the patient can be kept comfort- 
ably warm or cool as the season may require, and 
should be dry, light and well ventilated, but draughts 
must be avoided. Frequent disinfecting and white 
washing and strict cleanliness are very essential in a 
place of this kind. 



CHAPTER 2. 



Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. 



Simple Catarrh or Cold — Roup and Diphtheria— Laryn- 
gitis— Bronchitis— Congestion and Inflammation of the 
Lungs or Pneumonia — Gapes — Food Lodged in the 
Trachea or Windpipe— Air Sack Mites or Pneumo- 
mycoses. 



SIMPLE CATARRH OR COLD. 

THIS is a non-contagious catarrhal affection of 
the mucous membranes of the respiratory or- 
gans and eyes, and is the result of exposure to cold, 
especially to cold draughts over the roosts or along 
the floor of the hen house; poorly ventilated and damp 
hen house, and overcrowding, are also very fruitful 
causes. 

Symptoms: Watery eyes and sneezing, which is 
best noticed when one goes into the hen house quietly, 
in the evening; the fowl will become dull and 
feathers become rough; breathing is somewhat inter- 
fered with because of the nostrils becoming obstructed; 
the eyelids become swollen and sometimes stick 
together with the viscid secretion; breathing may be 

12 



DISEASES OF THE RFSPIRATORY ORGANS. 13 

carried on through the mouth only, which often be- 
comes almost impossible because of the cheesy mate- 
rial gathering in the throat, in which condition the 
fowl soon becomes exhausted and dies. 

Treatment: The cause must be sought and 
removed. The hen house must be clean, dry, well 
ventilated and lighted, but draughts along the floor 
and over the roosts must be avoided. The fowls must 
not be crowded nor overheated in a close, warm house 
and then let out in the cold, frosty air, or storm. 

Twice a day give in soft feed a teaspoonful of the 
following remedy for every 20 fovvis: 

Quinine 2 dr. 

Golden Seal 2 dr. 

Hyposulphite of soda. . . 2 dr. 

Ginger 4 dr. 

Gentian 6 dr. 

Wash the eyes, nostrils and throat twice a day with 
boracic acid solution, made by dissolving fifteen grains 
to the ounce of warm water. The cheesy matter must 
often be removed from the throat; for this a wire 
with both ends flattened and made blunt and bent in 
the shape of the letter U is very convenient. 

Good results are obtained by spraying the fowls 
each evening, while on the roost, with coal oil. This 
can be done very nicely with one of those sprayers 
that are used to spray potato vines or rose bushes, or 
with anything that will throw a fine mist or vapor. 
By spraying it over them while on the roost they will 
inhale the small particles of coal oil in the very min- 



14 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

ute air passages, which acts as an antiseptic and is 
perfectly harmless. 

ROUP AND DIPHTHERIA. 

Roup and diphtheria were by some of the older 
writers treated as two different diseases, but here 
they will be classed under the same head. 

It is an infectious, catarrhal condition of the mucous 
membranes of the throat, nose, eyes, sinuses (cavities 
in the head), etc. 

Symptoms: The onset of roup is very similar to 
cold and simple catarrh, such as sneezing, watery 
eyes, dull appearance and difficult breathing, as they 
often breathe with the mouth open; in fact, the symp- 
toms all along are very similar, except that simple 
catarrh will generally affect only here and there a 
fowl, and the outbreak will soon cease when the cause 
is sought and removed and such treatment given as 
directed. 

But roup will go from bad to worse and spread 
through the flock very rapidly before active measures 
are taken to check it. 

The most characteristic symptoms are, therefore, 
discharge from the eyes and nostrils; swelling or 
bulging out of the eyes, often to an enormous size; 
diphtheretic membrane forming in the throat, which 
often has a very offensive odor; there is great pros- 
tration, the feathers are rough, the appetite poor, 
comb and wattles dark and frequently the fowls drop 
dead from the roost, probably from suffocation. There 







ChaJ L -Stiles — ~X 
Celumbuj O _— jv-- 



Partndge Wyandottes. 




Golden Wyandottes. 




Chas L 5ti Ei Cn 



Barred Plymouth Rocks. 



•ils^V fj 







White Wyandottes. 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 15 

may be a diarrhoea, and where a number are affected 
the sight is a very pitiful one. 

Causes: The cause of roup and diphtheria is a spe- 
cific germ or bacteria; it is not yet positively decided 
whether it is the same germ that causes human diph- 
thea, but it seems the best evidence points that it is 
not; however, it is always well to take some precau- 
tion. 

Overcrowding in filthy, dark, damp, illy-ventilated 
poultry houses favors the development of the disease. 

Prevention: Birds which have been at poultry 
shows, or newly bought birds, should be kept by them- 
selves, away from the healthy fowls for a period of 
20 to 80 days, in which time the disease would develop 
if they were affected. 

The discharges from diseased fowls are loaded with 
germs which dry and become disseminated through 
the air and dust and are breathed into the air passages 
of healthy birds. Fowls which have recovered from 
roup should not be kept for breeding purposes, because 
their progeny are often weak. 

Treatment: In the first place, the healthy birds 
should be removed to a non-infected place where the 
sanitary conditions are good. Poultry, animals, or 
persons should not go direct from infected pens to a 
healthy flock. Thorough and persistent disinfecting 
of the poultry houses, roosts, feeding troughs, drink- 
ing vessels, etc., is absolutely necessary both where 
sick and well are kept. (See article on germs and 
disinfectants, page 9) . 



16 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

To the healthy give a teaspoonful of the following 
tonic for each 20 fowls, once a day, in soft feed: 

Quinine 2 dr. 

Sulphur 2 dr. 

Hyposulphite of soda 2 dr. 

Ginger 4 dr. 

Gentian 6 dr. 

The sick should be put in a warm, dry, clean, well 
ventilated place, which is free from draughts. The diph- 
theretic membrane should be removed from the throat 
as directed for removing cheesy material in simple 
catarrh (see page 13) ; then, at least once a day, wash 
the mouth, throat and eyes, if affected, with bo- 
racic acid solution, ten grains to the ounce of warm 
water, or with a 2% solution of creolin; or, perhaps, 
the best that can be used is equal parts of peroxide 
of hydrogen and clean, soft water. If pus and 
growths containing cheesy matter form about the 
head, these should be opened with a sharp knife and 
the wound kept filled with iodoform or boracic acid. 

For internal treatment, give one grain of equal parts 
of quinine and calcium sulphide three times a day. To 
give this, it may be mixed with a little moist meal and 
made into a pill and pushed back into the throat. 

When on a fair way to recovery, the tonic given 
above for the well may be given the same as di- 
rected, in their feed. Good, wholesome food should 
be given. All dead birds must be deeply buried or 
burned. 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 17 

LARYNGITIS. 

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the upper part of 
the windpipe. 

Cause is usually exposure to cold, or cold rains, etc. 

Symptoms : Breathing is rapid and rasping, the neck 
is extended, the mouth open, there is a cough and rat- 
tling in the throat; by opening the mouth the larynx 
can be seen, which will appear fiery red, the bird will 
become listless and cease eating, and the comb may 
appear blue. 

Treatment: Remove the cause by avoiding expo- 
sure. The bird should be placed in a warm, dry, well 
ventilated room and should be made to inhale steam a 
few minutes several times a day. This can be done by 
putting the patient in a closed box, in which a vessel 
containing a quart of oats is placed and over this pour 
hot water to which a little tar or camphor is added. 

For internal treatment add two teaspoonfuls of 
sweet spirits of nitre and 10 drops of tincture aconite 
to one-half pint of water and give a teaspoonful every 
three hours for a day; follow by giving a grain or two 
of muriate of ammonia dissolved in a teaspoonful of 
warm water, three times a day. 

Apply coal oil under the throat once a day. Feed 
sloppy food, milk, beef tea, etc. 

BRONCHITIS. 

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous mem- 
brane lining the windpipe and bronchial tubes. It may 
be an extension of a catarrhal condition from the head 
or larynx. 



18 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Causes: The causes are similar to those of laryn- 
gitis, such as exposure to cold, wet, draughts, etc. ; 
or it may be caused by compelling fowls to inhale irri 
tants; especially is dense smoke harmful. 

Symptoms: Breathing is rapid, there is a harsh, 
whistling sound and cough in the first stages, followed 
by loose rattling sounds made by the air passing 
through the n>ucus in the tubes. 

The bird seems feverish and becomes weak, the 
feathers are ruffled and in severe cases breathing be- 
comes very difficult; the patient frequently opens its 
beak in order to get sufficient fresh air. In such aggra- 
vated form the fowl soon becomes exhausted and will 
die if not quickly relieved. 

Treatment: The cause must be sought and removed 
and the general surroundings should be the same as 
directed for laryngitis. Also give the fever medicine 
(aconite and sweet spirits of niter) for a day or two 
as directed on page 17. 

Give soft, light food, such as stale bread soaked in 
milk, bran mash, boiled rice, etc. Follow the fever 
medicine by giving 10 to 20 drops of the following, four 
times a day: 

Muriate of Ammonia. . .10 gr. 

Syrup of Tolu ]4, oz. 

Fluid extract of licorice ]4 oz. 

Steaming as directed for laryngitis is also nee- 
essary. 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 19 

CONGESTION AND INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS, OR 
PNEUMONIA. 

Congestion is an engorgement of the blood vessels 
in the lungs and is simply the first stage of inflammation. 

Causes are exposure to cold, wet, etc., and in the' 
inflammatory stage, or pneumonia, there is supposed 
to be a specific germ which acts as a potent factor. 

Molting fowls are very subject to any of these in- 
flammatory diseases of the respiratory organs because 
their skin is very sensitive and not protected wth 
feathers. 

Symptoms: The bird will breathe rapidly and with 
difl^culty, and extend the neck with mouth open* the 
comb turns dark red or black because of the blood not 
being properly aerated; the feathers are ruflled, the 
patient rapidly becomes indifferent and may die, or 
the trouble may become lingering, in which condition 
there is usually a collection of yellow, cheesy material 
in the air sacks about the lungs, and after this condi- 
tion takes place the fowl will appear brighter and 
perhaps begin eating, but the difficult breathing will 
continue, from which it will never fully recover. 

Treatment: As soon as the first symptoms are 
noticed, place the bird in a warm, but well ventilated 
room, as plenty of fresh air is necessary. Give the 
fever treatment (aconite and sweet spirits of niter) 
given for laryngitis on page 17, for a day; follow by 
dropping ten drops of tincture digitalis in a table- 
spoonful of water and give ten drops of this solution 
and a grain of quinine every four hours. 



20 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

GAPES . 

Gapes is a bronchial affection in young fowls. It is 
not well understood by many poultry raisers and is a 
trouble that causes great losses. 

Cause: The real cause of this annoying trouble is 
small worms in the air passages. There are two kinds. 
The one most common and the one that affects 
chickens, turkeys, pheasants, etc. is known as "Scle- 
rostoma Syngamus" or "Syngamus Trachealis." 

The worm appears forked a»d really is two worms 
as the male and female are at this period always to- 
gether, which the word syngamus, (meaning marriage) 
implies. The larger being the female and the smaller 
branch or fork the male; therefore the female is about 
three times as long and twice as thick as the male. 

These worms are provided with mouths or suckers 
with which they attach themselves to the mucous 
membrane of the windpipe. The female is loaded 
with eggs which escape only after her death, usually 
when coughed out, and are deposited in the earth and 
are again taken up by another fowl or by earth worms, 
beetles, etc., and these, containing the eggs, are 
eaten by the bird in whose stomach the envelopes be- 
come digested and the embryo or young gape worm 
set free, which is supposed to bore its way through the 
walls of the digestive organs and the air sacks (the 
latter communicating with the lungs) and from thence 
into the air passages. At this stage or when entering 
the lungs, the sexes unite, at which time they are of 




Silver Laced Wyandottes. 




Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds. 




-CopyrigluKjos 



Columbian Wj^andottes. 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 21 

the same size, but the female soon becomes the larger 
because of being loaded with eggs. 

The other kind spoken of above is known as "Syn- 
gamus bronchialis"; this, however, is not at all com- 
mon and is supposed to affect water fowls, 

Symptoms: These are so familiar with the poultry- 
raiser that giving them would scarcely seem necessary 
except for the inexperienced. 

The chick will be seen opening its mouth and gasp- 
ing for breath frequently; it will sneeze and attempt 
to swallow; there may be a cough and, by watching 
closely, it is possible to see the worm being coughed 
up; the patient will appear dull, with drooping wings 
but the appetite is often not impaired. 

By holding the chick toward the sun the worms 
may be seen in the windpipe. 

Treatment: This, in the first place, should be pre- 
ventive. Chicks kept on old runs that are polluted 
with eggs of gape worms are certain to have gapes; 
therefore, avoid this cause as much as possible. 

Chicks kept on board or cement floors, until well 
feathered, are very seldom affected unless they are 
fed earth worm.s, or ground contaminated with gape 
worm eggs is thrown to them; neither should their 
drinking water be taken from pools draining polluted 
grounds or any place where contamination might be 
possible. 

The old w^ay of extracting the worm with a stiff 
horse hair, doubled upon itself so as to form a loop by 



22 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

twisting, or a feather stripped all but a tuft at the 
end is yet one of the most successful ways of removal. 
Either of these is passed well down into the windpipe, 
twisted several times and then withdrawn. 

Good results are sometimes obtained by dipping" the 
feather in tobacco solution, turpentine, spirits of 
camphor; salicylic acid, ten grains dissolved in an 
ounce of water; or a weak, warm, salt solution may be 
dropped into the windpipe once a day; a small dropper 
should be used. 

Garlic, onions or asafoetida given with the food or 
drinking water is considered valuable. Turpentine 
smeared on the underside of the neck and breast does 
some good. Professor Law says, "tobacco smoke may 
be blown under the cloth covering the birds until they 
fall over inanimate, when the cloth is removed and 
they revive in the open air." 

Poultry yards which are known to be polluted with 
gapes should be covered thickly with salt and lime, 
which will destroy the worms and eggs. 

By taking all the precautions laid down in this ar- 
ticle, gapes can be prevented in a measure, at least, 
which is far better than curative treatment which is 
very tedious and often unsatisfactory. 

Fumigating with carbolic acid is very good. To do 
this take a box three feet long, put in a partition of 
lath or wire netting, place the chicks in one end and a 
hot brick or live coals in the other, on which pour car- 
bolic acid at intervals. Keep the box covered as tight 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 23 

as it is safe to do without suffocating the patients; 
this should be repeated daily as long as necessary. 

FOOD LODGED IN THE TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE. 

Particles of food may accidentally be drawn into the 
windpipe (trachea) and will usually pass down until they 
reach the place where the trachea divides to pass 
into each lung; the voice or crowing organs are located 
at this point, hence a very characteristic symptom is a 
shrill or crowing noise. Other symptoms are such as 
difficult breathing and the comb turning blue suddenly. 

Treatment is hopeless unless the foreign body is 
lodged well up in the windpipe, when it may be worked 
up by pressing and rubbing upwards with the thumb 
and finger; or if this fails, a small opening may be cut 
into the trachea directly on the obstruction, which 
should again be closed nicely with a few very fine silk 
stitches, and the' wound kept covered with boracic acid 
or soda until healed. 

AIR SACK MITES OR PNEUMOMYCOSES. 

This is a mite or parasite, "Cytodites nudus", found 
in the air sacks about the lungs and sometimes inside 
of the bones, as in fowls there is communication be- 
tween the air sacks and bones. 

These mites may be likened unto Mange parasites 
and if they are found, upon examination, they will 
appear to the naked eye in the form of small white or 
yellow nodules. 

Causes: The parasites are supposed to form in a 
Tnould growing on dead organic matter and are either 



24 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

taken with the food and water or are inhaled in the 
form of dust. 

Symptoms in the early stages are not noticeable and 
at the best are very unreliable. About the first that 
will be noticed is drowsiness and weakness; the bird 
will not follow the flock; breathing will become difficult; 
the patient may utter cries, especially during expira- 
tion, but the throat, upon examination will be found 
healthy; great thirst and often little or no appetite; 
there is rapid emaciation; a fetid diarrhoea may set in 
and prove fatal in from one to six or eight weeks. 

Treatment must be principally fumigating and 
hygienic, although internal remedies are also indicated. 
The affected birds should be removed from the flock. 

Tar fumes are especially valuable, or turpentine 
poured on a hot brick will be found a good way to 
fumigate. Care must be taken that the fumes are 
not sufficiently strong to cause suff'ocation. 

For internal treatment give five or ten grains each 
of sulphur and hyposulphite of soda, once a day; the 
food must be wholesome and nutritious. The walls of 
the hen house should be whitewashed; the roosts and 
floors washed with a 5% solution of carbolic acid, or 
with Chloro-naptholeum or some such preparation; 
the runs should be frequently sprinkled with lime. 
Convalescing fowls should not be returned to the 
main flock too soon. 



CHAPTER 3. 



Diseases of the Digestive Organs. 



Catarrhal Stomatitis, Sore Mouth or Pip — Obstruction in 
the Throat— Impaction of the Crop, Crop-bound, or 
Paralysis of the Crop— Catarrh, or Inflammation ol the 
Crop— Indigestion or Gastritis — Gastro-Intestinal Cat- 
arrh, Bowel Trouble in Chicks— Simple Diarrhoea — 
Enteritis, Inflammation of the Bowels — Constipa- 
tion— Congestion ot the Liver— Inflammation of the 
Liver, Hepatitis— Infectious Entero-Hepatitis or Black 
Head in Turkeys— Cholera — Worms— Asthenia, Going 
Light — Peritonitis and Abdomi nal Dropsy— Limber 
Neck, Ptomaine Poison. 



CATARRHAL stomatitis is a catarrhal inflamma- 
tion of the mouth; the disease is oten called pip. 
Dr. Salmon says: "The term pip is commonly 
used with birds much as hollow-horn and murrain are 
applied to cattle diseases," and most everybody now- 
adays knows that those are only imaginary diseases, 
Dr symptoms of some other trouble in cattle, 
25 



26 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Causes. Sore mouth is often associated with 
catarrh and roup, but it is very frequently a local 
trouble caused by the bird takirg some irritant, or by 
exposure to dampness and flth; especially is gas aris- 
ing from decomposed hen mgrure in an illy-ventilated 
hen-house a fruitful cause. Injuries, suffcient to pro- 
duce inflammation, may be mentioned as another cause. 

Symptoms: These consist of the beak being held 
open and a false membrane or horny substance accu- 
mulating on the tongue and in the corners of the 
mouth; there may be a cough of a croupy nature; the 
fowl occasionally jerks its head and may emit a shrill 
sound. 

Treatment: The false membrane should be re- 
moved, if this can be done without causing too much 
pain, and the parts washed with a solution of borax, 
one dram to four ounces of water; or a five per cent 
solution of chlorate of potash, or if removing the 
membrane is very difficult and painful, apply with a 
brush a solution made by dissolving a little hyposul' 
phite of soda in glycerine. 

OBSTRUCTION IN THE THROAT. 

This is a condition that occasionally happens when 
the bird attempts to swallow soma large or irregular 
substance, such as a large bolus of food or a piece of 
green bone. 

The trouble is characterized by the fov,^l attempting 
to rid itself of it, and if the substance is at all hard 
or firm it can be felt by placing the finger and thumhi 
along each side of the throat. 



vif'^iy'X 




Single Comb I^hode Island Reds. 







•j;;^YvAM.f^ 






Light Brahmas. 




i:*3^ 



Dark Brahmas, 



DISEASES OP THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 27 

Relief must be given as quickly as possible, as there 
is danger of suffocation. 

This can often be accomplished by manipulating the 
sides of the the throat carefully in such a manner as 
to work the obstruction upward into the mouth. This 
can be facilitated by pouring a little sweet oil into 
the throat. Occasionally it may be necessary to use 
blunt forceps. 

IMPACTION OF THE CROP— CROP BOUND OR PARALYSIS 
OF THE CROP. 

This' is a condition in which the walls of the crop 
become partially paralyzed because of the organ being 
distended with coarse, bulky or indigestible food, or 
it may b,e brought about by depriving the bird of food 
for a considerable length of time, and then allowing all 
it can eat. 

Still another cause is ''Aberration of the Appetite" 
which means an abnormal appetite, in which case the 
fowl will seek indigestible food, such as leaves, straw, 
etc., or at times it will eat very little; then again will 
eat large quantities of food which, by being retained, 
ferments and greatly aggravates matters. 

Symptoms: The patient appears dull and its move- 
ments are sluggish; the crop is fnll, sometimes dis- 
tended to an enormous size and will feel more or less 
hard, and when fermentation of the contents has tak- 
en place a sour liquid may escape from the mouth, es- 
pecially when the bird is held with the head down; 
the comb becomes pale or dark and if relief is not af- 



28 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

forded the fowl may die, or gangrene of the crop 
may be the result. 

Treatment: One or two teaspoonfuls of castor oil, 
or, if this is not at hand, two tablespoonfuls of warm 
water should be given at once; then the crop should 
be carefully kneaded with the thumb and finger in 
such a manner as to press the contents toward the 
mouth; the head must be suspended frequently to al- 
low the food to drop from the mouth. 

By being persistent this method usually is success- 
ful; if not, or if the contents are hard or irregular, as 
pieces of bone, etc., an opening must be made into 
the crop which should not be more than one-half to 
one inch in length. Before making the incision the 
feathers should be removed; then with a clean sharp 
knife it should be made rather high on the crop and 
the mass removed carefully: then wash the wound 
with warm water in which a little soda has been dis- 
solved and stitch the edges together nicely with silk; 
give the bird no food for 24 hours, after which feed 
lightly with milk and soft feed. Give three to five 
grains of bicarbonate of soda and a few drops of tinc- 
ture gentian in the milk three times a day. The 
stitches should be removed in a week. 

CATARRH, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE CROP. 

Catarrh of the crop is a congestion or inflammation 
of the mucous lining of this organ and serious diges- 
tive troubles are the result. 



DISEASES OP THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 29 

Causes: These can usually be attributed to feed- 
ing unwholesome food, irregular feeding or overfeed- 
ing, or it may be the result of the bird eating some 
irritant or poison, or it may follow impaction of the 
crop; still another cause is the presence of small 
worms which infest the crop, oesophagus and gizzard. 

Symptoms: These somewhat resemble symptoms 
of impaction, but in catarrh the distended crop will 
feel soft and will be found to contain liquid and gas, 
with some food, and the odor from the bird's mouth, 
when pressing on the crop, will be sour and offensive. 

Treatment: Empty the crop at once by careful 
pressure and manipulating the contents toward the 
mouth while the fowl is held with the head down; 
then place the patient in a clean, dry, comfortable 
coop, and twice a day give five grains of bicarbonate 
of soda, two grains of subnitrate of bismuth and a 
few drops of tincture gentian. 

Food should be with-held for a day or so; then feed 
light diet, such as boiled rice, beef broth, etc. 

For symptoms and treatment for worms see article 
on those parasites. 

INDIGESTION OR GASTRITIS. 

The digestion of the fowl is rather complicated and 
any interference with its proper function often gives 
serious troubles. 

Just below the crop, or between the crop and the 
gizzard, is a small pouch or dilated portion of the 
oesophagus called the proventriculus, in which the 



30 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

glands that secrete gastric juice, are situated and the 
food by passing slowly through this pouch, or true 
stomach, becomes mixed with the necessary digestive 
ferments or juice; hence, any interference with the 
food passing through the proventriculus, either from 
disorder of the crop or the gizzard or by soured food 
irritating the organ and interfering with the normal 
flow of the digestive juice will result in indigestion. 

Causes: These are numerous; anything that inter- 
feres with the proper functions of the digestive organs 
will bring about indigestion, such as not allowing a 
sufficient amount of grit, over feeding, long continued 
use of stimulants, as pepper, or very rich food and lack 
of exercise, and I believe one of the most frequent 
causes is the bird eating soured food, which is often 
the case when soft food iis fed during the summer and 
some allowed to remain in the feed troughs for some 
time. 

Drinking impure water or eating poisons, such as 
rat poison; or occasionally a fowl will swallow some 
sharp object, as a pin or a sharp piece of bone which 
may lodge in the proventriculus. 

Symptoms: The fowl will appear dull and drowsy; 
there will be very little or no appetite; some of the 
food will usually remain in the crop, which will feel 
doughy and soon become sour; the fowl will usually 
linger along for several days, or occasionally the 
trouble becomes somewhat chronic and Jdiarrhoea sets 
in if not relieved, while others live but a short time. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 31 

TREA.TMENT: Put the bird in a comfortable place 
by itself, give one or two teaspoonfuls of castor oil, 
follow in several hours by giving a teaspoonful of the 
following three or four times a day: 

Ingluvin 20 grains. 

Tr. Nux Vomica 10 drops. 

Dil. Hydrochloric Acid 5 drops. 

Water 2 oz. 

Feed light diet as recommended for catarrh of the 
crop. 

GASTRO-INTKSTINAL CATARRH —BOWEL TROUBLE IN 
CHICKS. 

This is a catarrhal condition or an inflammation of the 
mucous lining of the whole digestive tract. It is the 
condition known hy the name "bowel trouble" in 
young chicks which perhaps causes greater loss of 
chicks, a few weeks old, than any other disease. 
However, older fowls are not exempt and in these it is 
often mistaken for cholera which disease it somewhat 
resembles but does not prove so rapidly fatal. 

Causes: It can usually be attributed to errors in 
feeding or poor management and bad sanitary condi- 
tions, such as overfeeding or heavy feeding after let- 
ting the chicks become very hungry, or by feeding too 
freequently, or by feeding very rich and stimulating, or 
tainted, or soured or mouldy food, or allowing fowls 
to drink bad, filthy water. Then, there are other 
causes, such as being chilled on cold floors, or exposure 
to dampness or cold; especially is this the case in young 



32 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

chicks; often brooder chicks are overcrowded and 
overheated, which reduces the vitaHty, and when let 
out in the open air they become chilled and bowel 
trouble is the result. 

In old fowls, exposure to draughts, cold rains, etc., 
during molting time, may be followed by an attack 
of gastro-intestinal catarrh. 

Going back again to the causes that may produce 
the trouble in young chicks; over-heating in the incu- 
bator or feeding while too young are often the very 
start of bov/el diseases because of the debilitating 
effects on the chicks' system. 

Symptoms: There is usually great thirst, loss of 
appetite, food often remains in the crop; the bird is 
dull, with wings hanging down; the droppings are thin 
and of a whitish or sometimes of a yellowish or green- 
ish color, and seem to be of a sticky nature, espec- 
ially in young chicks, when a mass of excrement will 
often accumulate about the anus, and when they 
are kept in a brooder this will dry on and some- 
times totally obstruct the cloaca. There are usually 
frequent attempts to expel the excrement, which are 
often accompanied with pain and much straining. The 
trouble may soon terminate in death or it may termin- 
ate in a severe diarrhoea or inflammation of the bowels. 

Treatment: In the first place the cause must be 
sought and removed; then, in young chicks, a grain 
each of bicarbonate of soda and subnitrate of bis- 
muth, and a drop of tincture gentian given three or 




Buff Cochins. 




|(g>_--^ ''t^^^' =*^siS; 
White Cochins. 









ff ¥ 




Copyjipht 1907 -^ 

Ch». L^,^,„ Columbus O^-^: 



Black Langshans. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 33 

four times a day proves very successful. Boiled milk 
and lime water, equal parts, or weak store tea given 
to drink for a few days is sometimes all the treatment 
necessary; of course, whatever the treatment given, 
the feeding must be carefully regulated; boiled rice 
and oatmeal are good light diet, or, for chicks, there is 
nothing better than very hard, dry, toasted bread. 

Another very good treatment is to give one or two 
drops of castor oil, followed by a grain of equal parts 
of bicarbonate of soda and powdered rhubarb given 
three times a day to each chick. Never attempt treat- 
ment until the cause is removed. 

Treatment for old fowls differs only in that the doses 
should be larger and, when due to their eating some- 
thing unwholesome, a teaspoonful of castor oil may be 
given before the other medicine, to cleanse the digestiva 
tract. 

A dram of sulphate of iron dissolved in each quart of 
drinking water once a day often works very nicely 
when there are only mild attacks and where a large 
flock of chicks are to be treated. 

SIMPLE DIARRIiCEA. 

Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of some other trouble 
or it may be'due to the fowls eating something that 
will act as a purge. 

It is characterized by a very v^ratery evacuation of 
the bowels, often without any other apparent ill condi- 
tion of the bird, unless it is the symptom of some 



34 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

other trouble, in which case the existing disease must 
be treated accordingly. 

Treatment: Seek the cause and remove it if possi- 
ble; then make a tea of white oak bark or blackberry 
roots and give to drink, or moisten a feed of ground 
oats or corn meal with the tea; or, in very obstinate 
cases, from one to five drops of laudanum may be given 
several times a day as long as necessary.' 

ENTERITIS — INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 

Enteritis is an inflammation principally of the muc- 
ous membrane lining the intestines, but in advanced 
cases the muscular coats are also involved. All fowls 
are subject to this trouble but ducks are very suscep- 
tible. 

Cause: In most cases the disease is caused by 
germs, of which there are a number of different kinds 
that are implicated in producing it; the germs are prin- 
cipally taken into the system with the food and water. 
Half-grown fowls or fowls that are in a debilitated 
condition succumb more readily. 

Poisons or irritants taken into the digestive tract 
are also capable of producing enteritis; common salt, 
meat or fish brine, rat poison, Paris Green, paint, 
lye, etc., are the most common among these. I wish 
to state here that common salt is very injurious to 
poultry if given in excess, while a very small amount 
is essential. 

Symptoms: The fowl will appear dull and sleepy; 
there is great thirst, but very little or no appetite; 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 35 

the feathers appear rough; the head, wings, and tail 
will droop; the discharge from the bowels is first a 
bluish green color, but later yellow and bloody, which 
is one diagnostic symptom and one which differs from 
cholera, which the disease somewhat resembles, but 
enteritis is confined mostly to a single flock and proves 
most disastrous to young or half grown birds, while 
cholera affects old and young, spreads very rapidly and 
proves fatal in a short time. 

Those cases that are due to poisons or irritants will 
manifest practically the same symptoms, but as soon as 
the poison is removed the trouble will spread no fur- 
ther and will be confined to those only that had access 
to it. 

Prevention and Treatment: Remove the sick from 
the flock, deeply bury or burn the dead; the house and 
runs must be kept scrupulously clean; the floors should 
occasionally be sprinkled with carbolic acid solution; 
the yards sprinkled with lime and the house fumigated 
with sulphur as directed in chapter on disinfecting. 

Food and water should be pure and should be scalded 
or boiled. Those that require treatment should be put 
in a comfortable place away from the healthy and 
should be fed a light diet, such as boiled rice or stale 
bread soaked in milk; and give a grain each of naphtha- 
lin and quinine with a few grains of powdered charcoal 
two or three times a day; or a few grains of bicar- 
bonate of soda and a grain each of Dover's Powders 
and salicylate of bismuth three or four times a day. 



36 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

These drugs should be given in a httle soft feed or 
out of a spoon, mixed with a little slippery elm or flax- 
seed water. 

After the diarrhoea is checked and there are no more 
bloody evacuations, a few drops of tincture gentian 
should be given three times a day and a dram or two 
of sulphate of iron dissolved in each quart of drinking 
water. 

When the trouble is due to poisons or irritants, the 
cause must be removed at once and demulcent drinks, 
such as flaxseed or slippery elm tea should be given 
with stimulants, such as coffee and a little brandy. 

CONSTIPATION. 

Constipation is dryness and accumulation of the con- 
tents of the intestines and may lead to total obstruc- 
tion of the bowels. 

Causes: Constipation may be due to the bird eat- 
ing dry astringent food, as broken acorns, cheese, 
etc., or it may follow diarrhoea or intestinal catarrh, 
because of the mucous lining of the intestines being 
irritated and therefore not secreting the normal 
amount of fluids, or, in those bowel disorders, the 
feathers often become so firmly matted together that 
the anus becomes obstructed and defecation becomes 
painful or impossible. 

Accumulation of egg matter in the oviduct, from 
broken eggs, may also cause filling up of indigestible 
matter in the bowels by pressing upon and obstructing 
the cloaca. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 37 

Symptoms are hard, dry droppings; the feathers 
about the anus may be matted, this, however, is us- 
ually the result of previous diarrhoea; there are fre- 
quent but ineffectual attempts to evacuate the bowels; 
the fowl will become dull, will stand with back arched, 
walk sluggishly and with drooped head; the hard mass 
or distended bowel may often be felt through the ab- 
dominal walls. 

Treatment: In mild cases, laxatives, such as one 
or two teaspoonfuls of castor oil or ten to thirty 
grains of Epsom salts in a spoonful of warm water 
given occasionally is all that is necessary. In obsti- 
nate cases or where the bowel is obstructed mechanical 
means must be connected with the above treatment. 
In such cases the feathers must be clipped off, if any 
are matted about the anus. This is often best done 
by soaking the parts a while in warm water; then ol- 
ive oil or warm soapy water should be injected into 
the cloaca with a small syringe, and in an hour the hard 
mass should be carefully manipulated and removed 
with the finger or some blunt instrument, such as the 
end of a teaspoon handle. If there should be a broken 
egg, treat accordingly. 

The food should be soft and sloppy and green food 
should be provided; for this onions are especially valu- 
able. 

CONGESTION OF THE I.IVER. 

Congestion of the liver is an abnormal filling up 
with blood in this organ. 



38 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Cause is overfeeding, especially with very nutri- 
tious or stimulating food, such as too much corn, buck- 
wheat, pepper, ginger, etc. Especially is this kind of 
feeding dangerous when fowls are closely confined. 
It is also associated with certain diseases, as cholera 
or diseases of the lungs and heart. 

Symptoms are seldom noticeable until the stage of 
inflammation takes place, but if any are noticed, they 
are such as irregularity of the bowels and appetite; 
the fowl will at times appear sleepy; the comb and 
wattles may become bluish, then yellov/. 

Treatment: Carefully regulate the diet and avoid 
such causes as mentioned above; give from ten to- 
twenty grains of Epsom salts once a day for several 
days; compel the fowl to exercise by giving free 
range, or provide a scratching pen with chaff or 
leaves, and feed plenty of green vegetables. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER— HEPATITIS. 

This disease is alwaj^s preceded by congestion, 
therefore the causes are the same. 

Symptoms are sluggishness, loss of appetite, yel^ 
lowishness of the comb, wattles and eyes; often there 
is a diarrhoea of a whitish watery nature and pressure 
on the abdomen shows tenderness and pain. 

Post-mortem appearance: Upon examination the 
liver will be found enlarged and frequently there are 
yellow patch^fJ «r abscer^S£<3 seen over its surfaoe; it 

Is u@uaUy soft md Q^siiy iofn, 




Single Comb Buff Leghorns, 




jingle Com^ Rlack Minorc^s, 




Single Comb White Leghorns, 




Rose Comb Whith Leghorns, 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 29 

Treatment: Give Epsom salts in ten to thirty 
grains twice a day for two days, followed by giving 
two drops of dilute nitro-muriatic acid in a teaspoon- 
ful of water three times a day. Another excellent 
treatment is Podophyllin, one half -grain, and calomel 
one-fourth grain, twice a day for several days, follow- 
ed with a few drops of fluid extract of hydrastis three 
times a day. 

The diet should be the same as directed under con- 
gestion of the liver. 

INFECTIOUS ENTERO-HEPATITIS OR BLACKHEAD IN 
TURKEYS. 

This is an infectious disease in turkeys and is most 
destructive to the young or rather half grown (from 
four to five months old.) 

It is due to the germ Amoeba Meleagridis enter- 
ing the digestive tract with the food and water, af- 
fecting principally the liver and double bowel (caeca.) 

Cause: As stated above, the direct cause is a germ 
and bad hygienic conditions, such as filthy feeding 
places or impure drinking water, greatly favor its 
propagation. 

Symptoms: These vary in different cases according 
to the intensity of the disease. Those most general 
are drooping of the head and wings, moping, loss of 
appetite; there is a yellowish or greenish diarrhoea 
which is one of the most marked symptoms; the head 
becomes dark or in some cases, nearly black, which 
gives the disease the common name "Black Head." 



40 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Another diagnostic symptom is the great prevalence 
of the disease, which shows that it is of an infectious 
nature. The post-mortem condition is also a useful 
guide; the liver will be inflamed and enlarged and 
deep-seated spots will appear which are of various 
colors, as brownish red, yellow, and pale or grayish 
dirty white. The caeca (double bowel) will be found 
greatly enlarged and the walls thickened; the contents 
are usually a pasty green substance, although in some 
instances the caeca will be plugged with a mass of 
broken down mucous or lining from the bowel. 

Treatment is of the nature of intestinal antiseptics 
and tonics. Place the sick bird by itself and give one 
or two teaspoonfuls of castor oil; follow in a few hours 
by giving one or two grains each of quinine and salol 
three times a day; or, five grains of sulphur and one 
grain each of quinine and sulphate of iron three times 
a day. 

Buf since treatment is almost useless, unless the 
source of infection is removed, preventive measures 
are absolutely necessary. The well should be removed 
to a non-infected place at once and should not be per- 
mitted to come in contact with the infected runs or 
sick fowls and should be fed through a slatted parti- 
tion or in such a way that they can not carry infection 
on the food with their feet. The same precaution 
should be observed with the drinking water, which 
must be pure, and, of course, thorough disinfecting 
must be carried out by sprinkling the floors once a 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 41 

week with a solution of carbolic acid; see germs and 
disinfectants, page 9. 

All manure or droppings should be carefully remov- 
ed each day and burned, as well as all dead turkeys. 
No turkeys that have been with the affected should be 
kept for breeding purposes but should be fattened and 
disposed of. 

Eggs should be obtained from healthy stock and the 
young kept so far away from the old infected runs 
that they cannot come in contact with them, nor have 
access to drinking water that may drain the infected 
runs. 

By taking all the precautions possible, in the way 
of preventing infection from the old runs and from 
exposed fowls, there is a fair possibility of eradicat- 
ing the disease. 

By leaving the old runs unoccupied for two years, 
turkeys can again be raised with comparative"safety. 

CHOLERA. 

Cholera is an acute infectious disease and one of the 
most fatal with which poultry becomes afflicted. It 
affects all domestic fowls; even ducks are not free 
from it, and rabbits when exposed or inoculated with 
the germ become affected; the disease is so fatal that 
the per cent, of mortality reaches from 90 to 95. 

Causes: The direct cause is a germ, "Bacterium 
cholera gallinaceae, " usually taken into the system 
with the food and water, or it may be inhaled with 



42 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

dust or inoculated through a wound. But there are 
many accessory causes that favor the propagating and 
disseminating of the germs, such as filth and over- 
crowding, fowls drinking filthy, stagnant water, allow- 
ing the droppings to accumulate, especially during hot 
weather. The disease may be contracted at poultry 
shows or fairs, where birds may become affected and 
carry the disease to poultry yards, or buzzards feed- 
ing on a fowl that has died from cholera may readily 
carry the infection for miles and contaminate poultry 
yards. Flies are capable of carrying the germ by 
flying from the decaying carcass of a fowl that has died 
from cholera, on the food of healthy fowls, or the 
food may become contaminated by fowls carrying the 
germ on their feet or bills. Men or animals may 
carry it with their shoes or feet. 

Symptoms: There is extreme dullness; ruffling of 
the feathers; the bird is seen off by itself with head 
and wings hanging to the ground and is apparently 
sleeping; comb and wattles are of violet color; no ap- 
petite, but great thirst. The crop is nearly always 
full, which, however, is a symptom of almost any di- 
gestive disorder and, alone, would not be considered a 
symptom of cholera. Often there is a frothy dis- 
charge from the mouth, a greenish diarrhoea will sud- 
denly set in and the bird will in many cases die of 
convulsions. 

The disease usually shows itself in from 18 to 48 
hours after the germ has been taken into the system, 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 43 

or after the fowl has been exposed, and lasts from 
one to three days. 

The most reliable methods of diagnosing cholera 
are its rapid spreading through a flock, showing its 
highly contagious character; its being very fatal in 
a few days; the greenish diarrhoea; upon examin- 
ing a dead fowl the internal organs are nearly all more 
or less involved; the liver, kidneys, heart and spleen 
are often found swollen, red or congested; the bowels 
show patches of congestion and inflammation and 
occasionally the lungs will be found engorged. 

Prevention: Because of cholera being due to 
germs and therefore infectious, all efforts possible 
should be put forth to prevent its spreading, by such 
mediums as explained above, and where there is an 
outbreak the sick should be isolated from the well, 
the premises cleaned and disinfected at least twice a 
week by washing the floors and roosts with a carbolic 
acid solution, one pound dissolved in three gallons of 
hot water, and, if possible, the walls whitewashed. The 
droppings and dead birds should be burned daily. Th.e 
drinking water should be previously boiled and given 
in vessels that are scalded and cleaned each day. 
Feeding and watering should be done through a slat- 
ted partition to prevent carrying infection on the food 
and water with their feet. 

For those that are not yet afflicted, a teaspoonful 
of dilute sulphuric acid may be added to each quart 
of drinking water once a day. 



44 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Treatment for the sick is almost hopeless and I 
wish to caution the readers of this little book not to 
place too much confidence in treating the sick birds, 
but use all the precautions possible to prevent the 
spreading of the disease. 

It is true there are many recommended cures, but 
the reader must bear in mind that a large number of 
supposed cases of cholera that have been cured were 
not cholera, but some other bowel trouble, such as in- 
testinal catarrh, enteritis, ptomaine poison, etc., and 
in such cases treatment is not quite so hopeless; hence 
the good results in supposed cholera cures. 

But if treatment is attempted, as is often desirable, 
especially for valuable fowls, the following is very 
much indicated: Mix 15 drops of carbolic acid in 
eight ounces of water and give a teaspoonful every 
four hours; also give one or two grains each of quinine 
and salicylate of soda and two drops of tincture opium 
in a spoonful of water three times a day, 

WORMS. 

Fowls, like other domestic animals, frequently be- 
come infested with worms. 

These parasites are found all through the digestive 
tract, principally in the intestines, but several small 
varities are found in the oesophagus, and the walls of 
the crop and gizzard. There are many varieties, but 
they can be classed under two heads, namely, round 
worms and tape worms. 




Rose Comb Black Minorcas. 







Single Comb White Minorcas. 




Copy: i^h t 



Single Comb Brown Leghorns. 




Rose Comb Brown Leghorns. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 45 

Symptoms: Same as in other animals; there is gen- 
eral unthriftiness, but positive diagnostic symptoms 
are not very characteristic, save one, which is the 
presence of worms, either in the droppings or as 
shown by post-mortem examination. 

The most common symptoms are; the bird becomes 
poor and dull; has irregular appetite, sometimes rav- 
enous, other times poor; often wanders off alone 
and stands or sits with its head under its wing, and 
frequently there is dizziness and diarrhoea. The 
feathers will soon appear rough. 

Treatment: When it becomes evident that fowls 
are infested with worms they should be put on new 
runs, or the old runs cleaned and sprinkled with air- 
slacked lime and salt, and, if convenient, spaded or 
ploughed; feeding should be done on a clean place 
where there are no droppings. 

For a vermicide, turpentine stands at the head. To 
administer it mix with equal parts of sweet oil and 
give one-half teaspoonful twice a day for several 
days, or until the bowels move freely; follow with 
tonics, such as one dram of sulphate of iron dissolved 
in each gallon of drinking water, once a day. For 
tape worms, powdered areca-nut or powdered male 
fern, given in grain doses in the evening, after fast- 
ing for ten hours, and followed the next morning with 
thirty grains of Epsom salts in a spoonful of water, 
is excellent treatment; feeding garlic or onions is also 
considered good. 



46 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

ASTHENIA — GOING LIGHT. 

This is a condition in fowls for which there are no 
particular symptoms except gradual and extreme loss 
in weight. 

It is supposed to be due to a bacterium, causing a 
catarrhal condition of the duodenum (the f.rst porticn 
of the intestine, next the gizzard.) The disease is 
therefore infectious; it is chronic, usually ending in 
death in several months. 

Treatment is first looking after the sanitary con- 
ditions as in all infectious diseases, and removal to new 
runs if possible. 

Give one-fourth grain of calomel every four hours 
until the bowels move freely; follow by giving five or 
ten drops of elixir iron, quinina and strychnine, 
three times a day, with good nutritious food. 
peritonitis and abdominal dropsy. 

Peritonitis is inflammation of the delicate membrane 
which lines the abdominal cavity and covers the bow- 
els and other organs in the abdomen. 

Causes: It may be caused by direct injury, such as 
wounds through the walls into the abdomen, or some 
injury to the bowels causing perforation and letting 
the contents escape through, or it may be inflamma- 
tion extending from other organs, as the liver, bowels, 
or even the egg organs or testicles; it often follows 
caponizing. 

BVivll*''4H.)MB5 Tbofp if4 t,vidonfo of gpf^Rf. pain nnd un- 

easinQBs; the bird will ftppear hvt g? fev^^riaJi, o^pec^ 



47 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 

ially the abdomen, which is also painful upon pressure; 
the appetite is lost; the fowl becomes very weak; 
death may take place in a few days, or it may assume 
a chronic condition, in which stage a liquid will be 
thrown out from the inflamed membrane causing what 
is known as "Abdominal Dropsy," which is character- 
ized by the abdomen's becoming enlarged and feeling 
soft like a water bottle. 

Treatment is scarcely profitable, except in very 
mild cases; the bowels should be emptied at once by 
giving one or two teaspoonfuls of castor oil, then, if 
in the first stage, aconite may be given; put ten drops 
of tincture of aconite in a glass of water and give 
one-half teaspoonful every two hours for a day, fol- 
lowed by giving tincture digitalis prepared the same 
as aconite, for a few days. In cases where there is 
fluid in the abdominal cavity, tapping may be resorted 
to; this can be done by puncturing the lower part care- 
fully with a small trochar or hollow needle, followed 
by giving one grain of iodide of potash in a teaspoon- 
ful of water, twice a day. The food should be laxa- 
tive but nutritious. 

LIMBER NECK— PTOMAINE POISON. 

This is a disease which usually attacks fowls very 
suddenly and rapidly proves fatal. 

Cause is supposed to be ptomaine poison, which en- 
ters the system by fowls eating maggots or deoom- 
|iu3pd mpat, MUfh aa I4 (-ftrca^M ei' ttnothei' fqwl or 

gomp othQr animal, or spoiled moat that has been 



48 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

thrown out; also, maggots found in rotten manure 
may cause it, but, perhaps, are not so apt to as those 
gotten from rotten meat. 

Symptoms: The disease is sometimes so rapidly- 
fatal that no symptoms are noticed before the death 
of the fowl, but where the illness lasts for one or two 
days there will be extreme prostration, the head and 
neck hanging limp (which gives it the name of * 'Lim- 
ber Neck"); the wings of the fowl are drooped; fre- 
quently there is a diarrhoea; the feathers often be- 
come loose and drop out; the fowl may lie on its 
breast unable to rise, and occasionally flutter, or die 
without a struggle. 

Treatment: The cause must be sought and re- 
moved. As a preventive for those that are not al- 
ready afflicted, dissolve an ounce of hyposulphite of 
soda in each gallon of their drinking water, once a 
day. To the sick, one-half grain of calomel may be 
given every four hours, until three or four doses are 
given. Follow with a grain of quinine and one or two 
drops of tincture nux vomica given three times a day. 
Four or five drops of turpentine given in a teaspoon- 
ful of sweet milk, three or four times a day, is also 
said to be a speedy cure. 



CHAPTER 4. 



Diseases of the Heart. 



Pericarditis— Rupture of the Heart. 



PERICARDITIS. 

THIS is an inflammation of the sack around the 
heart. 
Causes: It frequently associates other diseases, 

such as diseases of the lungs, or it may be the result 
of exposure. 

Symptoms: The fowl will raise its head and breathe 
with difficulty, and, by placing the ear to the chest, a 
grating or splashing noise may be heard. Exertion 
will cause great exhaustion and sometimes sudden 
death. 

Treatment is very seldom attempted because the 
disease is usually unnoticed until after death; but, if 
noticed, five drops of sweet spirits of nitre may be 
given in a teaspoonful of water every four hours, and 
a drop of tincture digitalis tv/ice a day. 
49 



50 



LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 



RUPTURE OF THE HEART. 

Rupture of the heart, or of the large blood vessels, 
may occur, usually from over-exertion or fright; it is 
most common in fat or large birds. Of course immedi- 
ate death is the result; therefore no treatment can be 
given. 




Houdans. 




Rose Comb Buff Orpingtons. 










Copyi ighf iQoa 



Single Comb Black Orpingtons. 




Single Comb Buff Orpingtons. 



CHAPTER 5. 



Diseases of the Nervous System. 



Paresis — Cerebral Congestion or Congestion of the B rain — 
Apoplexy— Epilepsy or Fits. 



PARESIS. 

PA.RESIS is a partial or a complete loss of use of 
the legs. It is a condition often found in 
hens, especially in pullets which are apparently in the 
prime of health and have just begun laying, or are lay- 
ing well. 

Cause: Paresis so often occurs with hens or pullets 
which are fed heavily with rich, stimulating food with the 
view of forcing the egg production, that there is very 
little doubt but that this may be named as a princi- 
pal cause; however, it may also be due to other causes, 
such as pressure on the spinal cord from tumors, in- 
flammation, etc. 

Symptoms: The fowl will be noticed to walk stag- 
geringly for a day or two and will gradually grow 
worse, until there is complete loss of the use of the 



51 



52 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

legs, and the bird will move about by flapping its 
wings. The appetite and general health are usually 
good. The condition often becomes so bad that the 
fowl becomes utterly helpless. 

Treatment: Give a physic of 30 or 40 grains of 
Epsom salts in a spoonful of warm water; follow this 
by giving one or two drops of tincture nux vomica 
three or four times a day. The patient should be 
placed by itself where other fowls cannot annoy it and 
should be fed light food, such as vegetables and milk. 

CEREBRAL CONGESTION OR CONGESTION 
OF THE BRAIN. 

is an abnormal filling up of the blood vessels of the 
brain with blood. It is quite prevalent in fat or over- 
fed birds. 

It may be caused by exertion, especially when ex- 
posed to the' hot sun. Cocks are supposed to be sub- 
ject to it during breeding season. It may also associate 
certain diseases, or it may be the result of an injury 
to the head. 

Symptoms are giddiness and often convulsions. The 
giddiness is manifested by the staggering gait and, 
perhaps, by walking in a circle; the head is carried 
high and thrown backwards. Often, when caused by 
the hot sun, there are convulsions, or the bird may 
become unconscious for a short time and then begin to 
flutter. 

Treatment: Cold water should be applied to the 
head freely, until the severe symptoms pass off; the 



DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 53 

bird must be placed in a cool, comfortable, well-venti- 
lated place, and a physic of 20 to 40 grains of Epsom 
salts in a spoonful of water be given, followed by two 
or three grains of bromide of potash three times a day 
as long as necessary. 
The diet should be light and easily digested. 

APOPLEXY. 

Apoplexy is due to rupture of a small blood vessel in 
the brain. 

Causes are very much the same as in congestion of 
the brain. The fowls are often found dead on the 
nest, when it is supposed to be due to hard straining; 
others will drop dead during violent exertion, or will 
drop dead from the roost. 

Treatment: The attack is so sudden that treatment 
cannot be resorted to, but for preventive measures the 
food should be limited, and not of a fat-producing nat- 
ure, and the fat should be reduced by compelling exer- 
cise. Twenty grains of Epsom salts should be dis 
solved in a little water and mixed with soft feed twice 
a week for each fowl. 

epilepsy or fits. 

Epilepsy or fits is a condition characterized by a sud- 
den loss of consciousness, with convulsions, fluttering, 
and jerking. It appears to be a sudden explosion of 
nerve energy, the cause of which is not well understood 
but is often due to reflex irritation from intestinal 
worms, or indigestion or it may be due to some abnor- 
mal condition, or tumor, in the brain. 



54 



LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 



The disease is not necessarily fatal, but the frequent 
attacks often make the fowl valueless and, unless the 
bird is a fine one, treatment will not pay, unless it is 
known to be due to worms. (See article on worms, 
page 44.) 

Treatment, when the disease is not caused by 
worms, should be the same as that for Congestion of 
the Brain. 




Copy, , /,( 



Single Comb White Orpingtons. 



CHAPTER 6. 



Diseases of the Kidneys and Organs of 
Reproduction. 



Nephritis, Inflammation of the Kidneys— Male Organs 
and their Diseases— Female Organs, Their Anatomy 
and Physiology— Inflammation of the Oviduct— Pro- 
lapsus of the Oviduct — Egg Bound— Vent Gleet— Ab- 
normal Eggs— Large or Two- Yolk Eggs— Eggs with- 
out Shells, or with Soft Shells— Blood within Eggs- 
Incubation of the Egg in the Hen — \A^orms or Para- 
sites in Eggs— Eggs with Two Shells— Diseases of the 
Ovary. 



NEPHRITIS OR INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 

FOWLS, like other animals, have kidneys which 
are located nsar the lungs, along the spine. The 
excretions or urates (which is the white part of the 
droppings) are carried through the ureters, into the 
cloaca (the bird having no bladder) and voided with 

the faeces. 

55 



S6 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

The kidneys occasionally become inflamed, which 
disease is properly called "Nephritis." The symp- 
toms, however, are not sufficiently marked to diag- 
nose the disease in time to attempt treatment. The 
author's object in giving the disease this passing no- 
tice is that there may be an occasional case found, 
upon post-mortem examination. 

MALE ORGANS AND THEIR DISEASES 

The genital organs of the cock are two testicles and 
the two ducts which carry the semen to the cloaca 
from which it is deposited into the female cloaca dur- 
ing the act of coition. 

Water fowls, however, possess an organ which pro- 
trudes out a few inches during coition, through which 
the semen is deposited in the female cloaca; this is 
especially noticeable in the drake. 

Sometimes the testicles bocom.e inflamed or dis- 
eased, which is very seldom recognized during life, 
but when the cock, during the breeding season, be- 
comes weak, rapidly loses vigor, is inclined to sit, and 
does not care to associate with other fowls, some ab- 
normal condition of the organs of reproduction may be 
suspected. 

Treatment would consist of placing the patient 
alone in a quiet, comfortable coop. To an adult cock 
give one-half teaspoonful of Glauber's salts dissolved 
in two tablespoonfuls of water; follow by giving a 
few drops of sweet spirits of nitre every four hours^ 




Blue Andalusians. 




White Crested Black Polish. 



I >r 







Silver Spangled Hamburgs. 



DISEASES OF ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. 57 

and one or two drops of tincture nux vomica three 
times a day. Feed green and light food. 

Suppuration may take place, which condition can- 
not be diagnosed during life. 

FEMALE ORGANS, THEIR ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 

The female organs of the fowl consist of the ovary, 
the oviduct and the cloaca; the cloaca being common 
to the organs of reproduction and to the digestive 
and urinary organs. 

A brief description of the anatomy and physiology 
of the egg organs might be of some interest. The 
ovary is situated near the spine on the left side; it 
has the appearance of a cluster of yellowish nodules, 
and one by one, these nodules grow larger and become 
more yellow and finally the delicate membrane (Calyx) 
surrounding each ruptures and allows the nodule, which 
is called vitellus, to escape into the dilated portion of 
the oviduct, called the infundibulum, where it forms 
the yolk of the egg. The yolk is surrounded by a 
very delicate membrane called the vitelline mem- 
brane. Fertilization occurs soon after this body 
leaves the ovary and enters the oviduct. As it passes 
on down, it stimulates the v/alls of the oviduct, from 
which the albumen or white of the egg is secreted, 
and deposited on the yolk; the egg now passes on 
through the oviduct, with the small end downward; 
it reaches another dilated portion called the uterine 
or shell-forming part, where the limy substance 



58 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

which forms the shell is secreted. The time required 
for the egg to pass from the ovary to the uterus, or 
the part where the shell is formed, is about six hours, 
and from twelve to twenty-four hours to complete 
the whole journey, from the time it leaves the 
ovary until it is laid. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE OVIDUCT. 

The oviduct, as previously explained, is not only the 
channel through which the egg passes from the ovary 
to the cloaca, but a great part of the egg is formed 
by passing through it. 

This organ, in order to perform its delicate func- 
tion? must necessarily be well supplied with blood 
vessels; therefore, it is quite subject to inflammation. 

Causes: One of the most frequent causes is over- 
feeding with rich, stimulating foods, causing very 
frequent laying, and hence drawing large quantities 
of blood to these highly vascular parts. Other causes 
are such as an abnormally large egg becoming lodged 
in the duct, or the breaking of an egg in the duct, 
which may be caused by some injury. 

Symptoms: Eggs stained with blood are a symp- 
tom of slight congestion or inflammation. If the seat 
of inflammation is in the uterus, or portion where the 
shell is formed, eggs without shells are laid. Im- 
perfect, small eggs, or yolks without the white, or 
eggs which contain no yolk, are an indication of in- 
flammation of the oviduct. 



DISEASES OF ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. 59 

The hen will strain, and show symptoms of laying, 
without depositing an egg; as the inflammation 
advances there will be fever; the bird v/ill become 
weak and dull; the comb will turn pale; there will be 
loss of appetite and death v/ill finally result. 

Treatmevt, unless attempted early, is not success- 
ful. In those cases that can be treated in time, give 
twenty to forty grains of Epsom salts in a spoonful of 
water; follow by giving five to ten drops of fluid ex- 
tract of viburnum prunifolium and a few grains of 
saltpetre, two or three times a day. The food must 
be light, and meat, pepper, ginger and such stimu- 
lants must be avoided. 

PROLAPSUS OF THE OVIDUCT. 

This is a condition in which the oviduct partially or 
completely drops down into the cloaca, or it may even 
protrude from the vent. 

Causes: The trouble is mostly found in old hens 
that have been great layers and in v/hich the walls of 
the cloaca have become distended and flabby, or it 
may result from continued straining, or from consti- 
pation, inflammation of the oviduct, or from constant 
laying of very large eggs. 

Symptoms: In partial prolapsus there is a red 
tumor-like appearance just inside of the cloaca, while 
in complete prolapsus a dark red colored mass pro- 
trudes from the vent. When the parts are thus expos- 
ed, inflammation becomes very int2n3G and gangrene 
may set in, which soon results in death. 



60 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Treatmenf should be as prompt as possible. As 
soon as the first symptoms are noticed, take a pint of 
warm water to which add five drops of carbolic acid, 
and thoroughly cleanse the parts; then with oiled fin- 
gers, carefully replace the mass. Sometimes when 
the tumor is very large and painful, holding the vent 
in a pan of warm water, to which the above propor- 
tion of carbolic acid has been added, has good effects. 

If there is much straining, a few grains of chloral 
hydrate, or a few drops of tincture opium, may be 
given in a teaspoonful of water, every few hours. 

Place the hen alone and after there is no more 
straining give two drops tincture nux vomica in the 
food, twice a day; feed light food, such as boiled vege- 
tables, milk, etc. 

EGG BOUND. 

Egg bound is the lodging of an egg in the oviduct. 

Causes: It may be due to irritation of the lower 
portion of the oviduct causing dryness of the mucous 
membrane. Fowls being very fat is a condition that 
may produce such irritation. 

Constipation of the bowels may sometimes obstruct 
the cloaca by filling it with fecal matter. 

Symptoms somewhat resemble those of inflamma- 
tion of the oviduct, as the two conditions may some- 
times be associated. The hen will go to the nest fre- 
quently and make efforts to lay. The most rehable 
symptom is feeling the egg with the finger, in the 
vent or cloaca. 



DISEASES OF ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. 61 

Treatment: The cloaca should be cleared of all 
fecal matter. If it is full of a hard mass this must be 
softened with warm water; then, if the egg has not 
been retained too long, lubricating the parts by inject- 
ing a little olive oil is sufficient treatment. In more 
obstinate cases good results are often obtained by hold- 
ing the fowl with the vent in a pan of warm water for 
twenty or thirty minutes. Where all other measures 
fail, the egg should be punctured, the pieces carefully 
removed and the patient fed sparingly for a few days. 

VENT GLEET. 

Vent Gleet or Cloacitis is a catarrhal affection of the 
mucous membrane lining of the vent and cloaca and in 
very bad cases the inflammation may extend to the ovi- 
duct or bowel. 

Cause: It is due to germs and is therefore conta- 
gious; the disease is usually communicated from one 
hen to the other, by the male, during coition. 

Symptoms: The first symptoms noticeable are 
straining, and frequent attempts to evacuate the 
bowels, but, since these symptoms are also common to 
other diseases, further investigation should be made. 

In vent gleet the disease spreads rapidly through the 
flock. The mucous membranes will be found hot, red, 
and swollen, and in a few days a discharge will take 
place which irritates the parts and soils the feathers 
about the vent, annoying the bird so that it will be 
seen picking the parts. 

THteATM^Nf; Tht^ parti must fifi^t b© thoroughly 
el^ansed, by bathing oa^dlaily with w^rm witai'i in 



62 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

which two or three drams of either borax or boracic 
acid have been dissolved in a pint of vi^ater. After 
cleansing thoroughly, dry by v^iping with soft cloths; 
then, twice a day apply an ointment made by mixing 
one dram of boracic acid with one ounce of vaseline, 
or, instead of this, apply oxide of zinc ointment. 

ABNORMAL EGGS. 

Under this subject we will explain a few of the com- 
mon abnormalities of eggs, such as small, deformed, 
and very large eggs, etc. Many years ago a supersti- 
tious idea prevailed that such eggs, especially the 
very small ones, were a bad omen, and they excited 
much curiosity. Some even entertained the idea that 
such eggs should be thrown over a building to over- 
come the bad foreboding. 

SMALL, OR INCOMPLETE EGGS. 

These are usually no larger than a pigeon egg and 
contain very little, or no yolk. 

These are caused by irritation of the part of the evi- 
duct where the albumen is secreted, an over amount 
being thrown out and then passing dov^rn into the 
uterine portion of the oviduct; a shell is formed around 
it, and the small egg is the result. 

LARGE OR TWO YOLK EGGS. 

These are caused by two yolks entering the oviduct 
from the ovary at the same time; therefore, albumen 
and shell are formed around both. When such are 
hatched, double or imperfect chicks are the result, 
^ome hena, tav soma incxulicable reason, are in the 
habit of laying double eggs, 




Cornish Indian Games. 



ysir'"^^ 




Black Brc^a&ted Games, 




t:AV*MR_^— ^ 



COWR t¥>T «00 



Toulouse Geese, 




Embc^^n 0§@fiei 



DISEASES OE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. 63 

EGGS WITHOUT SHELLS, OR WITH SOFT SHELLS. 
As stated in the article on Physiology of the Egg 
Organs, the shell is formed in the uterine or dilated 
lower portion of the oviduct. Any irritation, or inter- 
ference with the functions, of this part may cause it 
to cease secreting shell-forming material; hens being 
very fat is a common cause. Soft shells may, also, be 
the result of not providing the hens with sufficient 
lime or oyster shells. 

BLOOD WITHIN EGGS. 

Blood spots are occasionally found in eggs. This is 
the result of a slight hemorrhage from a small rup- 
tured blood vessel in the oviduct or ovary. If the spot 
is on the yolk it would indicate that the hemorrhage 
occurred in the^^i^feett if it is on the white the hem- 
orrhage occurred farther down the duct. The condition 
indicates great activity of the egg organs, which may 
be the result of over feeding or of feeding stimulants; 
therefore, light food should be fed for a while, and 
meat and stimulants with-held. 

INCUBATION OF THE EGG IN THE HEN. 

Occasionally eggs remain in the oviduct, possibly as 
the result of egg-bound, long enough to hatch. 

WORMS OR PARASITES IN EGGS. 

Worms or parasites, such as intestinal worms, are 
occasionally found within eggs. They are supposed to 
pass from the bowels into the cloaca and then find 
their way into the oviduct and become incased in the 
egg- 



€4 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

EGGS WITH TWO SHELLS. 

Occasionally small, imperfect eggs are forced, up- 
ward into the oviduct instead of being expelled, and 
there become surrounded with another layer of albu- 
men and, finally, another shell. 

The cause is the same as that of small eggs, and 
would indicate that the hen is overstimulated, or com- 
pelled to work harder than the egg organs can endure; 
consequently she should be fed light food, as bran and 
vegetables, and should be given rest. 

A very good remedy for any of these abnormal con- 
ditions of the egg is to give the hen a few drops of 
tincture of corn-smut once or twice a day for a few 
days; or ten drops may be added to each pint of drink- 
ing water, once a day for a few days. 

DISEASES OF THE OVARY. 

The ovary of the fowl occasionally becomes diseased; 
it may become inflamed, which may terminate in gan- 
grene. In other cases, tumors of considerable size 
may grow on the ovary, some of which may be of a 
cancerous nature. 

Dr. Salmon in "Diseases of Poultry" likens these 
ovarian tumors to the yellow of a boiled egg. 

Treatment is impossible, as the disease is never di- 
agnosed while the fowl is alive, but is revealed only 
by post-mortem examination. 



CHAPTER 1. 



Diseases Affecting Various Organs. 



Ergot Poison — Anaemia or Impoverished Blood — Tuber- 
culosis — Bagging Down— Emphysema or Wind Puff- 
Rheumatism — Leg Weakness— Cramps in Young 
Fowls— Rickets in Young Chicks— Dropsy of the Feet. 



ERGOT POISON. 

ERGOT is a smut or mold found on grain, espec- 
ially new, partially spoiled grain. Fowls roving 
on grain-fields after harvest, during wet seasons, are 
very subject to ergot poisoning, but it may also be pro- 
duced by feeding grain which contains smut. 

Symptoms: Usually there is at first diarrhoea, fol- 
lowed by dizziness and paralysis or spasms, which may 
be followed by gangrene of the comb, beak, or feet 
and toes, which is characterized by these parts becom- 
ing dry and dead and finally dropping oflF. In chronic 
or slow ergot poison the gangrene may come on with- 
out any previous symptoms, as diarrhoea, etc. 

Treatment : The cause must be removed at once, 
which, in mild cases, is suflficient. If the diarrhoea con- 

65 



ee LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

tinues, give a few drops of tincture opium several 
times a day. When gangrene has started, the parts 
that are dead should be removed and the wound washed 
once or twice a day with a solution of Goulard's 
extract, two teaspoonfuls to one-half pint of water. 

ANAEMIA OR IMPOVERISHED BLOOD. 

This is a deficiency of some of the constituents of 
the blood. 

Causes are those conditions that tend to reduce the 
vitality of the fowl, of which there are many, such as 
improper food, deficiency of food, exposure, indigestion, 
worms, lice, etc. 

Symptoms are paleness of the comb, wattles, and 
mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes, and gen- 
eral weakness; the fowl is easily exhausted, but the 
appetite may remain good. 

Treatment: Seek the cause and remove it; feed a 
liberal supply of good clean nutritious food; allow 
plenty of sunlight, and give each fowl a few drops of 
tincture of iron and five drops of tincture quassia in 
a teaspoonful of water twice a day, or add the proper 
amount to the drinking water. 

TUBERCULOSIS. 

Domestic fowls and birds as well as other animals 
are subject to this disease. It is quite prevalent in 
some flocks and, when once affected, there is no suc- 
cessful method of eradicating the disease, except by 
destroying diseased fowls. 



DISEASES AFFECTING VARIOUS ORGANS. 67 

Cause: Tuberculosis is due to germs (the tubercu- 
lar bacilli). 

Symptoms: The symptoms of tuberculosis in fowls 
are, for the most part, common to other diseases, and 
the only method of making a positive diagnosis is by 
microscopical examination of suspected growths or 
nodules; if the bacillus tuberculosis is found, the 
nature of the disease can no longer be doubted. 

Fowls afflicted with tuberculosis show unthriftiness, 
emaciation and rough plumage. Nodules often appear 
on the face, about the eyes, or the joints of the legs or 
wings show swellings or small tumors which break 
down and ulcerate. Post-mortem examination shows 
white or grey tubercular deposits in the walls of the 
intestines, lungs and liver. These deposits vary from 
the size of a millet seed to that of a pea, and may be 
hard and lime-like, or soft and cheesy, or may even 
contain small quantities of pus. 

In house parrots the external manifestations of dis- 
ease is quite common; horny growths appear on the 
face, about the eyes, or on the bill; the wings and toes 
often present nodules that are characteristic. The 
tuberculosis of fowls is not easily communicated to 
mammals, but that of parrots seems to be identical 
with tuberculosis affecting man, and is believed to be 
capable of being transmitted to the latter. 

Treatment: Since the disease can be transmitted 
from one fowl to another, by close association, and 
since no cure is possible, all affected birds should be 



68 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

destroyed, and the runs and poultry houses thoroughly 
disinfected and kept clean and dry, with plenty of sun- 
light, for several months. Where this is done new 
fowls can be admitted at the end of six or eight months 
with a fair assurance that the new stock will remain 
healthy. 

BAGGING DOWN. 

This is a condition that is seen mostly in old hens as 
the result of their being too fat. The oniy treatment 
is short rations of light food, which encourages exer- 
cise. Such hens are fit for table use, as this is not a 
disease. 

EMPHYSEMA OR WIND PUFF. 

This is a peculiar condition that affects young chicks 
and is characterized by the collecting of air or gas un- 
der the skin, making them appear like a ball full of 
wind. 

Causes: It may result from an injury, or from eat- 
ing certain decomposed or fermented food; chicks eat- 
ing starch has been known to cause it. 

When due to an injury, such as the chick being 
trampled by the mother, or by large fowls, the air is 
supposed to escape from the lungs, through the air 
sacks and hollow bones, and to collect under the skin. 

Treatment: See that they eat no soured food, and 
allow only a small quantity of good, clean food. Add 
five drops of carbolic acid to two tablespoonfuls of 
water and give one-fourth teaspoonful every two 
hours; also, mix charcoal r/iUi tlie xQQi, 




Bronze Turkeys. 







White Holland Turkeys. 




Golden Seabright 
Bantams. 



m( 



*'' 



^: 






^f^ 







Black Breasted Red 
Game Bantams. 



<,// 




a^NM'vs./^ 



^p« , 



^v'- 






L^ 




'k 



'^<> 
* JT 



Buff Cochin Bantams. White Cochin Bantams. 



DISEASES AFFECTING VARIOUS ORGANS. 69 

Open the skin with a needle or small shears, to allow 
the escape of gas. 

RHEUMATISM. 

Acute rheumatism is a constitutional disease, excited 
by dampness and cold. 

Symptoms: There may be some fever; bowels are 
usually constipated; there is pain shown by spasmodic 
jerking of the legs, and often the fowl is unable to 
walk; some of the joints are swollen and, usually, the 
swelling and pain shift from one joint to another; this 
is one of the most reliable symptoms. In severe cases 
the enlarged joints will ulcerate, or become hard. 

Treatment: Remove the cause by placing the bird 
in a warm, dry room; give twenty grains of Epsom 
salts in a tablespoonful of warm water; follow in a 
few hours by giving one grain of quinine and two 
grains of salicylate of soda, four times a day. 

Apply equal parts of oil of wintergrcen and soap 
liniment to the swollen joints once or twice a day. 

LEG WEAKNESS. 

The trouble among fowls which is known as leg 
weakness is only a symptom of som3 other condition, 
but, because it is such a familiar term and occurs so 
frequently, it is necessary to give it space. 

Causes: In young chicks it may be due to confine- 
ment on board floors or in damp coops, or it may be 
i\\u t^e^ult ef iiiijirup^I'ly h^Htpd brC*od*^'rt4, b(>U(<»n hi^ui 

being especially bad. 



70 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Li adult fowls the heavier breeds seem to be most 
subject, —especially the males,— but by no means can 
it always be attributed to any of the above named 
causes, because in some cases it may be due to over- 
feeding or to rheumatism, while in other cases the 
cause is obscure. 

Leg weakness is quite prevalent in ducks, and is 
caused, in most cases, by feeding too much of such food 
as corn, buckwheat, etc., or, in the young, by allowing 
free access to cold water, or by over-crowding. 

Symptoms are, as the name would imply, weakness, 
lameness, disinclination to move; the appetite is usu- 
ally good, and the bird will usually eat all the food 
within reach, then move a few steps, and again sit 
down and eat. 

Treatment : If any of the above named causes exist, 
remove them at once; also examine their feet, and, if 
anything should be found, treat as directed under the 
existing condition. Feed such food as bran, rice, green 
food, milk, etc. 

Give an adult fowl one or two drops of tincture nux 
vomica and a few grains of salicylate of soda three 
times a day. To the young give smaller doses accord- 
ing to age. 

The patient should be put in a dry comfortable place 
where it is not annoyed by other fowls. 

CRAMPS IN YOUNG FOWLS. 
Young fowls occasionally become crampy, which is 
charaetijri:«ad by tht» lugtJ di-awing up QV oramping 

together of the legg and toes. 



DISEASES AFFECTING VARIOUS ORGANS. 71 

Causes : It is quite frequently caused by feeding too 
highly concentrated food and too much of it. In young 
ducklings or goslings it may be due to an error in feed- 
ing, or to allowing them to get into cold water when 
quite young. 

In brooder chicks it can sometimes be attributed to 
keeping the brooder quite warm, then allowing the 
chicks to run out on the cold, damp ground or floor. 

Treatment: The cause must be first sought, and 
removed, if possible. If it is due to feeding too highly 
concentrated food change the diet and feed less; plenty 
of green food and some beef scraps should be fed. 

If it is due to allowing water fowls to get into cold 
water, remove this cause; if due to over-heating the 
brooder, or to chicks becoming chilled, this must be 
remedied. 

For medicinal treatment, add ten drops of tincture 
belladonna and ten grains of salicylate of soda to two 
ounces of water and give each chick one-half teaspoon- 
ful three times a day, and keep them in a warm, dry, 
comfortable place. 

RICKETS IN YOUNG CHICKS. 

Rickets is a constitutional disease, usually associated 
with derangement of digestion, nutrition and assimila- 
tion. It is not as frequently met with in young chicks 
as in other animals; hov/ever, it is occasionally seen. 
It is really a deficiency of earthy material in the bony 
tissue. 

Symptoms are the km of th« u.ss of thtj kgg; the 
toeg will draw tu^^Dthor as in crumps; but the most 



72 LEAMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

prominent are softening of the bones, which is shown 
by the legs becoming crooked, the beak appearing soft 
and often turning sideways; either the lower or upper 
beak, more commonly the lower, may become enlarged 
and drawn out of shape so that the chick will not be able 
to pick food. 

Causes: This trouble can usually be attributed to 
improper feeding, bringing on digestive disorder, or to 
feeding food that does not supply the proper nourish- 
ment. It is also quite frequently found among chicks 
that are kept indoors exclusively, and do not have 
access to any food containing lime or earthy material. 

Treatment: Give the chicks good hygienic sur- 
roundings; feed a variety of good food; and mix a tea- 
spoonful of phosphate of lime in soft feed once a day 
for every thirty chicks; give lime water to drink, 
once a day, to which add sufficient tincture gentian so 
that each chick will get several drops. 

DROPSY OF THE FEET. 

Occasionally we find a condition where the feet seem 
to swell as in dropsy. 

Causes: It can usually be attributed to over- feed- 
ing and insufficient exercise. 

Treatment: Remove the cause and feed light food, 
such as bran mash and give the fowl a drop or two of 
tincture digitalis and a few grains of acetate of potash 
three times a day. 



CHAPTER 8. 



Diseases Pertaining to Surgery. 



Wounds and Bruises— Abscesses— Corns and Bumble 
Foot— Broken Bones — Frost Bites. 



WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 

WOUNDS and bruises are not inflicted upon 
fowls as frequently as upon other domestic 
animals, but do occasionally occur. 

Treatment: Stitching of a v/ound in a bird is 
seldom necessary, except when large pieces of skin 
are torn loose. In such cases wash the wound with 
warm water to which one-half teaspoonful of carbolic 
acid has been added to a pint of water used; remove 
all particles of dirt and feathers; then stitch the edges 
of the skin together nicely, with ordinary white thread, 
if surgeon's silk is not at hand. If boracic acid or so- 
da is at hand, a little may be dusted on the raw surface 
before stitching. 

Slight wounds will heal very rapidly and seldom need 
any treatment; if any is attempted, washing with the 
carbolic acid water, and then keeping boracic acid 
or soda dusted on, is sufficient. 
73 



74 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Bruises, where there is no abrasion of the skin, are 
best treated by the application of hot fomentations, as 
hot water, or hot bran or salt held on in small sacks. 

ABSCESSES. 

Abscesses consist of the accumulation of pus within 
circumscribed walls, and may be located in different 
parts of the body. 

Causes: Deep-seated bruises are the most frequent 
causes, but inflammation, and consequent suppuration, 
or abscespes of certain glands, are sometimes the 
result of infectious diseases. 

Symptoms: The first is a hot, painful swelling in 
which pus soon forms, which" is manifested by the 
center becoming soft. 

Treatment: As soon as the soft place can be felt, 
it should be cut open and washed out with carbolic acid 
water as often as necessary. 

corns and bumble foot. 

Corns are bruises on the under surface of the feet. 

Causes: Alighting from high roosts or being con- 
tinually confined on hard floors are the most frequent 
causes, especially with the heavy breeds. Another 
cause is narrow perches, which it is necessary for the 
bird to grasp tightly all night in order to keep its 
position. 

Symptoms: There is lameness, thickening of the 
skin on the bottom of the fo#t, and, frequently, swel- 
ling, with ffVQul pftin, followed by the formation of pus, 

when it is termed 







Japanese Black Tailed 
Bantams. 



Fantail Pigeon. 




Poutk}*' Pigeon, 




Homing Pigeon. 




Tumbler Pigeon, 



DISEASES PERTAINING TO SURGERY. 75 

BUMBLE FOOT. 

In this stage the swelling will often extend up 
between the toes, and walking becomes very pcinful. 

Treatment: When there is only a simple corn or a 
hard, thickened skin on the bottom of the feet, this 
should be pared off and tincture iodine applied several 
times; but where there is a painful, deep-seated abscess, 
v/hich would be "bumble foot," it should be poulticed 
with scalded bran or flaxseed until the inflamraaticn 
and soreness are relieved, or until it appears soft, 
which would indicate pus, when it should be opened 
with a sharp knife and the pus and core removed, and 
the wound filled with boracic acid and alum, in equal 
parts. 

By following this treatment and keeping the bird on 
a clean, dry, soft floor for a few days, a good recovery 
will usually be the result, if the cause has been 
removed. 

BROKEN BONES. 

Fractured bones frequently occur in fowls, and, if 
the fracture is located so that it can be bandaged, un- 
ion will take place very readily. 

Treatment: Carefully straighten the broken bone 
and get it as near the natural position as possible; 
then cover evenly with a thin layer of cotton; over 
this, lay splints of heavy, moistened paste-board; then 
wrap evenly with a narrow strip (about one inch) of 
muslin. Plenty of bandage should be applied, and 
it should extend well past the fracture in both direc- 



16 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

tiors, and should be tight enough to keep the bones 
together well, but not so tight that it will interfere 
with circulation. Place the patient in a comfortable 
coop, away from the other fowls. 

FROST BITES. 

Frozen combs, wattles and toes are very common in 
our Northern climate. 

Treatment: The best treatment, which is almost 
useless to mention, is avoiding the cause; that is, pro- 
viding a sufficiently warm house, but this cannot al- 
ways be done. 

When the parts are only slightly frozen, and if no- 
ticed soon, they should be bathed or immersed in cold 
water just drawn from the well or spring. Heat 
should by no means be applied, neither by bathing 
with warm water, nor by taking the bird near a warm 
stove; a cool cellar is better. 

After the frost is taken out by using the cold water, 
apply of a mixture of Ichthyol one part, and Glycerite 
of tannic acid, three parts, once or twice a day; or, if 
this cannot be had, turpentine, one part, mixed with 
six parts vaseline, is also good. 

When the parts are severely frosted, or when the 
frost is allowed to come out of its own accord, there is 
danger of the f r©zen parts dying and f alHng off, and 
no treatment will prevent this. When the wattles be- 
come puffed and filled with a watery substance, they 
should be cut off immediately as far as frosted, which 
will give great relief, and healing will take place rap- 
idly. 



CHAPTER 9. 



Diseases Affecting the Skin. 



Chicken-pox — Favus — Mange or Depluming— Scaly Legs^ 
Lice, Mites, Etc.— Where do Lice Come From? 



CHICKEN-POX. 

CHICKEN-POX, sometimes called sore-head, af- 
[ f ects all domestic fowls. 

Causes: This disease is supposed to be due to a 
micro-organism and is therefore contagious. Filthy, 
wet poultry-houses greatly favor its development. 

Symptoms: The disease affects the head mostly; 
usually the eyes and about the beak, comb and wattles; 
it is characterized by the formation of yellowish-gray, 
warty-appearing nodules, from the size of a mustard 
seed to that of a grain of corn. Sometimes, the eyes 
are covered with nodules so as to cause blindness. 

The general health is usually not much affected at 
first and in some cases the nodules will dry off and the 
fowl will recover rapidly, while in others they will 
gradually grow worse and finally die. 

Treatment: Affected birds should be removed from 
the flock and the necessary sanitary precautions taken. 
77 



78 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Give the sick fowl a few grains each of sulphur and 
cream of tartar three times a day and apply either 
oxide of zinc ointment or equal parts of Glycerite of 
tannic acid and compound tincture of Benzoin to the 
nodul«« twice a day, 

FAVUS. 

Favus, sometimes called "baldness" or white comb, 
is a parasitic disease, similar to ring worm, affecting 
principally the comb and wattles, but which may 
spread to any part of the body. The disease is conta- 
gious because of the parasite or fungus, "Achorion 
Schonleinii, " being easily communicated from one bird 
to another. 

Symptoms: The principal symptoms are the dirty, 
white, powdery crusts of a m.ousy odor, forming on the 
comb and wattles, and in a few weeks spreading over 
the head and neck and, if unchecked, to other parts of 
the body. Finally, the feathers will become affected 
and drop out or break off and, if let go, the bird's gen- 
eral health, which is at first unaffected, becomes 
affected and there will be weakness, loss of appetite, 
loss of flesh, diarrhoea and finally death. 

Treatment: The well and afflicted fowls must be 
separated, the roosts and walls disinfected by scalding 
or whitewashing, and air-slacked lime sprinkled over 
the floor. 

Then, take the afflicted bird and carefully scrape the 
scabby accumulation from the affected parts and apply 
one of the following parasiticides: 



DISEASES AFFECTING THE SKIN, 79 

Tr. Iodine 2 dr. 

Oil of Tar 6 dr. 

Alcohol 8 dr. 

Mix and apply two or three times a week. 
Or in one pint of soft water dissolve all the hyposul- 
phite of soda it will take up, and wash with this once 
a day. The latter is very cheap and effectual. Either 
treatment need be used only until the parts are normal 
or healthy looking, which is usually accomplished in 
a short time. 

MANGE OR DEPLUMING. 

Mange or scabies, very commonly called "deplum- 
ing" is caused by a parasite, "Sarcoptes Laevis." 

The disease is characterized by the feathers drop- 
ping out or breaking off in spots on any part of the 
body; most commonly, perhaps, over the rump, thighs 
and belly. 

Treatment: First, separate the well from the af- 
fected, and, for treatment, those dips or preparations 
advertised, such as "Zenoleum" or "Chloro-naptho- 
leum" are among the best applications. They should 
be applied as directed. 

Another very effectual remedy is the following, ap- 
plied every few days: 

Alcohol 2 oz. 

Oil of Tar 6 oz. 

Water 1 qt. 

The roosts must also be washed with the preparation 
or scalded with boiling water, floors scrubbed, and 



80 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

sprinkled with fine lime, of sprinkled with the prepar- 
ation used. The walls should be whitewashed. 

SCALY LEGS. 

Scaly legs is a very common disease; it is due to a 
parasite, the "Sarcoptes Mutans," which burrows 
under the scales and multiplies very rapidly. 

The disease is shown by a rough, scabby deposit on 
the legs, caused by yellowish exudate drying, and 
forming a crust. 

Treatment: The legs should be soaked in warm, 
soapy water; then rubbed with a brush, so as to remove 
the scales and expose the parasite; then, either of the 
remedies given for "Mange" may be applied or, a 
very effectual ointment may be made by mi^dng a tea- 
spoonful each of oil of tar and sulphur with a table- 
spoonful of clean, unsalted lard; this should be applied 
every other day. If the disease is general, the same 
sanitary precautions should be resorted to as are rec- 
ommended for Mange. 

LICE, MITES, ETC. 

There are no less than thirty-five or forty different 
varieties, some being very annoying, others not so 
much. 

Some affect the skin by gnawing; others suck the 
blood; while some live on the feathers and scales of 
the skin; these latter, of course, do not annoy the bird 
nearly so much as those that irritate or gnaw the skin. 
Still others are found in the air sacks to which we 
have referred in the article on Pneumycosis. 








Pearl Guinea. 







Pekin Ducks. 




_- ^ C«l»n\fcm.a 



Indian Runner Ducks. 



DISEASES AFFECTING THE SKIN. 81 

The small red mite is perhaps the most common and 
annoying, especially during the night, when it feasts 
on its host by pricking the skin and filling itself with 
blood, while during the day it is found in large num- 
bers in cracks, crevices, etc., in the walls, roosts and 
nests, or in the litter, if much of this is allowed to 
accumulate under the roosts. 

Another very annoying variety is the large (some- 
times called the gray head) louse. This variety is very 
destructive to young fowls; a few may destroy a young 
bird. Their presence is detected principally on the 
head, and by their white nits at the base of the feath- 
ers on the head and about the eyes. 

The long, slender louse is one of the most common 
found on the fowl during the day, or when an examin- 
ation is made; they are usually very plentiful about 
the vent, under the wings, along the belly, where 
their niti and debris will be found collected about the 
base of the feathers. This louse runs very rapidly and 
will soon disappear; therefore, searching must be done 
very carefully. 

Those that do not gnav/ or bite the skin, but affect 
the feathers, are characterized by the feathers appear- 
ing dead and breaking off, and by their excreta collect- 
ing about the shafts of the feathers. 

WHERE DO LICE COME FROM? 

The old supposition that lice are spontaneously 
developed in filth and litter should no longer be main- 
tained; however, it ia true that such unsanitary condi- 



82 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

tions favor their development, but it is a known fact 
that we cannot produce lice, and that animate beings 
must come from like animate parents; hence, with 
whatever kind of lice the fowl is infested, the same 
originated from that particular species. 

When the rapidity with which lice multiply is taken 
into consideration, we can readily see how, under fav- 
orable circumstances, myriads of lice may develop in 
a short time, from only a few lice. According to 
Leuwenhocck, quoted by Newmann, a single female 
louse may, in eight weeks, become grandmother of 
10,000 lice and, according to some authorities, the 
third generation of a single louse may reach 125,000. 

Symptoms: Tha diagnosis of lice is easy if a care- 
ful search is made by parting the feathers and exam- 
ing the skin, especially on the head, about the vent, 
and under the wings and belly. Suspicion should be 
aroused by such symptoms as the birds pecking them- 
selves, being restless on the roosts, leaving the nest 
when hatching, comb and wattles becoming pale; or 
sometimes, fowls are so badly infested that they be- 
come sick or succumb to a bad diarrhoea, which is 
often mistaken for cholera, but has no relation, what- 
ever, to cholera; when such symptoms exist, fowls, 
and all crevices about the roosts and nests should be 
carefully examined. 

Treatment must be persisted in and repeated every 
woek ar two, btJcauia© u few Hop and niti left will SOOn 

deveiop a new crop* 



DISEASES AFFECTING THE SKIN. 83 

A good supply of dry sand or road dust should always 
be kept in a box in a warm, sunshiny place where the 
fowls can bathe at will; a small amount of sulphur or 
insect powder added to the dust will improve it. 

For the large head louse on. small chicks, the appli- 
cation of clean unsalted lard in which a few drops of 
oil of sassafras has been mixed with each ounce, is 
very effectual; a very effectual dip can be made by 
mixing two or three ounces of creolin in a gallon of 
warm water; the fowl must be held in the water for 
at least a minute and all the parts, even the head, 
must be wet, but, of course, the head must not be im- 
mersed into the dip; after applying lard, and after 
dipping, the birds must be kept in a warm, dry place 
for some time. 

Louse Killers, in powder form, or sulphur, are also 
good, but sulphur must not be used on small chicks. 
The roosts and nests should be carefully examined 
every week or two and, if lice are found, they should 
be scalded with boiling water, or saturated with coal 
oil, and the walls should be whitewashed at least once 
or twice a year. 

Fine road dust thrown about in the house occasion- 
ally, is quite destructive to lice; fumigating, by burn- 
ing sulphur in the closed house, when fowls are out, 
will destroy mites. This is very good for small coops 
that cannot be easily gotten into. The droppings must 
be removed often, especially during warm weather. 

To destroy those that affect the feathers only, either 
the creolin dip, or the oil of tar, alcohol, and water 
treatment for mange, is very effectual 

Chickens v/hich du«t freely in wood ashen aiv seldom 
troubled with lice, 



CHAPTER 10. 



Vices or Habits. 



Feather Pulling and Ealing— Egg Eating— Comb Eatirg 



FEATHER PULLING AND EATING. 

WHEN fowls pull their own feathers, suspicion 
of lice or some skin disease should be 
aroused and a careful examination should be made. 

But occasionally the habit, or vice, of pulling ar.d 
eating one another's feathers is acquired. 

Causes: An abnormal appetite, often caused by- 
feeding an insufficient variety of food, or by c'ose con- 
finement and idleness; or it may be the result of not 
feeding meat in any form. 

Treatment: If possible, free range should be allow- 
ed; if this is impossible, exercise should be encouraged 
by providing a scratching pen, in which small grain 
should be thrown in straw or chaff. A piece of salty 
meat hung just so they can reach it, by making seme 
exertion, is scm.etimes effectual. The food should be 
of as much variety as possible, with plenty of meat 
and cut bone. 

84 



VICES OR HABITS. 85 

An ointment mado by mixing a little aloes with lard 
and applying it to the parts where they pull feathers, 
mostly, has a tendency to disgust them, because of its 
very bitter taste. But, where there are only a few 
feather-eaters in the flock, they should be disposed of 
before the whole flock acquires the vice. 

EGG- EATING. 

This is a very troublesome vice and is often difficult 
to check. 

Causes: In a great many cases the vice begins from 
the eggs being too soft shelled and easily broken in the 
nests, when they will be eaten, not only by the hen 
that breaks them, but she will carry pieces of shell 
about the hen-house and others will get the taste and 
soon acquire the vice. 

Idleness and insufficient supply of meat, cut bone and 
oyster shell may be considered as indirect causes. 

Treatment: All possible efforts must be made to 
prevent hens from getting started, by keeping straw 
or something soft in the nests, and by having the nests 
arranged so that the hens v/ill not be compelled to jump 
on the eggs. 

A variety of food, with a liberal supply of shell- 
forming material ar.-d meat, should be supphed, such as 
oyster shells, lime, cut bone, meat scraps, etc. The 
hens should be compelled to work, either by giving 
free range or by providing a scratching-place. 

Artificial nest eggsshould ba placed c~cut flcor of the 
the hen-bQUse, ?ig well as one or two kept in each nest. 



86 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

If the above methods are not sufficient to check 
the vice, nests must be arranged so that the eggs 
will drop out of sight, or so that the hen cannot get at 
them. Funnel shaped nests with an opening in the 
center through which the eggs will drop into a soft, 
padded box or drawer are very good. Another method 
is a long box, opening at one end only, and low enough 
so that the hen cannot stand erect while back in the 
nest. This has two good features; namely, its being 
low and somewhat dark. 

COMB-EATING. 

Pecking one another's combs and wattles, especially 
the hens pecking the cock's, is a vice fowls occasion- 
ally contract and, when they once taste the blood, the 
habit will grow worse. 

Causes are not unlike those of the other vices; 
namely, idleness and an insufficient meat diet. 

Treatment: Remove those that have bloody combs 
for a few days, or until the combs are partly healed or 
dried; then apply a preparation made by mixing one 
part each of tar and powdered aloes with four parts of 
lard; supply plenty of fresh meat, and encourage 
exercise. 



APPENDIX. 



Feeding Young Chicks- Feeding and Caring for Young 
Turkeys — Feeding for Eggs — How to Hasten Molting 
— How to Break up a Broody Hen -The Number of 
Hens that Should be Mated with One Male — Time 
Required in Mating to Insure Pure and Fertile Eggs— 
— Things to be Remembered. 



FEEDING YOUNG CHICKS. 

THE first week or ten days is perhaps the most 
critical time of a chick's Hfe because of the dan- 
ger of digestive disorder. 

Almost every poultry-raiser has his own method of 
feeding, and many are good. I shall attempt to give 
only a few. In my own experience I have had excel- 
lent results from feeding dry feed only, beginning 
when the chicks are twenty-four hours old, (as they 
should never be fed before twenty-four hours) by giv- 
ing rolled oats and fine dried bread crumbs about every 
four hours; plenty of fine sand should be kept before 
them from the start. To this ration may be added, 
in a few days, fine cracked wheat screenings or ready 
mixed chick feeds, of which there are many different 
brands in the market. A Httle later, cracked corn is 
also ^iven. 

87 ^ 



88 LEAMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

A great many poultry-raisers, who adopt the dry 
feeding method, supply the food with automatic feed- 
ers, especially after the second or third week, which 
perhaps comes closer to nature than feeding at a cer- 
tain time or at intervals. 
Alter the first ten days, milk may be given quite 
freely, also fresh meat in small quantities. For those 
who do not prefer the dry feeding method, the follow- 
ing makes a good "Bill of Fare:" Stale bread soaked 
in sweet or scalded milk, to which is added some hard 
boiled eggs, shell and all, finely chopped. Clean water 
should be kept before them constantly in drinking 
fountains. 

For broiler feeding, one mash a day after the second 
or third week will somewhat hasten their growth, but 
when mash feeds are given, the birds must be watched 
closely for indigestion or bowel trouble. 

A little powdered charcoal mixed with the mash feed 
will help to prevent indigestion. 

FEEDING AND CARING FOR YOUNG TURKEYS. 

The first few weeks of a young turkey's life is a very 
critical period. The first week, the mother and young 
must have a warm place that is free from draughts of 
air and dampness and in which they will be undis- 
turbed by other fowls. 

The food, for the first three weeks, should consist 
of sweet milk (fresh from the qow is best,) very hard 
MM eggs, cracked wheat or {screenings, and br^ad 



APPENDIX. 89 

crumbs. During this time, if the weather is warm, 
they may be let out during the middle of the day, being 
careful that they are kept near the coop and shut in 
before sunset, as dew is very injurious to young 
turkeys. 

They should be watched closely, so that they will 
not get on their backs, because it is often impossible 
for them to arise from this position and they will die 
if left alone. 

Ants are great enemies to young turkeys; they are 
injurious when eaten or may pest the birds by getting 
on their heads; therefore, care must be taken that the 
coop is not put near ant hills. 

Food for the fourth week may consist of oat meal 
sour milk curd in small quantities, wheat screenings, 
table scraps, taking care that these do not contain too 
much salt. After the eighth week, they may be given 
their freedom; they may be fed grain in the morning 
if they do not have access to grain fields. 

FEEDING FOR EGGS. 

When fowls have free range, or the run of the farm, 
very little attention need be paid to feeding, with 
regards to a balanced ration. But, when closely con- 
fined, the food must be of such a nature that it will 
supply the constituents of the eggs, as well as main- 
tain the health of the hens. 

Below is the daily ration required for a laying hen 
according to Bulletin No. 84, of Rhode Island Experi- 
ment Station: 



90 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

Protein 12 grams, 

Fat 7 grams, 

Carbohydrates 45 grams, 

Nearly all grains have some value as poultry food, 
but wheat, oats and barley undoubtedly stand at tho 
head as egg producers. 

The following is an excellent combination for dry cr 
hopper feeding, about four or five ounces being a daily 
ration for a hen : 

Wheat 10 lbs. 

Oats 4 " 

Barley 3 " 

Buckwheat 3 " 

Sun Flower Seeds 2 " 

Corn 3 '* 

Another very successful method is giving a mash in 
the morning as early as possible; then, during the day, 
some of the above mixture (without the corn) may be 
thrown into straw or chaff in a scratching-pen and, 
for evening feed, all the corn may be given they will 
eat off the cob. Meat, not to exceed ten per cent of 
the daily ration, and green food should always be sup- 
plied during the winter or when closely confined. 

Stimulants, such as pepper or ginger, are, perhaps, 
of some benefit, but must be fed very sparingly, 
because overdoing the matter will produce disease, 
such as liver trouble, etc. 

When rich, yellow yolks are desired, plenty of clover 
must be fed either green or dry. The clover meal 
now on the market is a very convenient way of supply- 
ing this useful adjunct. 



APPENDIX. 91 

Lime must be provided in some form; it is estimated 
that one pound of oyster-shells contains sufficient lime 
for the shells of seven dozen eggs. 

HOW TO HASTEN MOLTING. 

Sometimes it is desirable to hasten molting, so as to 
get the hens well feathered and in laying condition by 
late fall or early winter. 

To accomplish this, the hen should be fed very spar- 
ingly and kept confined for a few weeks, or until she 
has entirely ceased laying and is in a somewhat deple- 
ted condition; then she should be fed plentifully with a 
ration that is highly nitrogenous, so as to encourage 
the growth of new feathers. Oil meal, pea meal, 
ground oats, wheat, milk, and beef scraps would be 
among the best that could be fed. Results will be 
much more satisfactory, if several varieties are fed, 
than when only one kind of grain or feed is given. 

When beginning to feed a fowl that has been par- 
tially deprived of food, care must be taken that it is 
not overfed, but it should be fed cautiously and the 
amount gradually increased. 

HOW TO BREAK UP A BROODY HEN. 

One of the quickest methods of breaking up a per- 
sistent broody hen is to place her in a small coop with 
a wire screen bottom, for 36 to 48 hours, without feed 
or water. The coop must be up off the floor so as to 
allow the cool air to pass beneath the hen. Of course, 
in cold weather the coop must not be put in a place so 
cold that the hen will freeze her feet. 



92 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

This treatment may seem a little cruel but it is not 
nearly as severe as some other methods that are often 
resorted to with little or no effect. Another very ef- 
fective method is to set her in a bucket containing 
several inches of water, for several hours. 

THE NUMBER OF HENS THAT SHOULD BE MATED 
WITH ONE MALE. 

The number of hens that can be safely mated to one 
male depends upon the breed and vigor of the male, 
but the following is a good rule to follow: The small, 
or Mediterranean breeds, such as Leghorns, Minorcas, 
etc., may be mated from twelve to fifteen hens to a 
healthy cock. 

The medium breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks and 
Wyandottes, ten to twelve. The very heavy breeds, 
such as Cochins and Biahmas, eight to twelve hens to 
a cock. 

TIME REQUIRED IN MATING TO INSURE PURE 
AND FERTILE EGGS. 

The subject of mating is not exactly agreed upon 
by all poultry raisers, yet in most cases when the hen 
has been mated ten days, the eggs may be considered 
pure; but perhaps the surest way is to change hens 
from one male to another at the close of an egg Htter. 

The following are a few tests made by several dif- 
ferent stations : 

Not more than 309^0 of eggs will hatch, when gath- 
ered during the first week after mating; from 40 to 
SO^o, when gathered during the second week; from 
50 to dO^o, when gathered during the third week. 



APPENDIX. 93 

From these tests, the conclusion may be formed 
that the mating should be at least three weeks, in 
order to get the greatest percentage of fertile eggs. 

THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED. 

High perches are not desirable, nor should some Le 
higher than others. 

Charcoal snd grit should always be kept before few Is. 

Plenty of clean litter should be supplied. 

Over-crowding should positively be avoided. 

A dust bath should always be provided. 

The breeding stock must be healthy to insure fowb 
of strong vitality. 

Do not neglect to give plenty of fresh water. 

The droppings should be removed daily. 

Never over-feed. 

Remember that fowls confined must be provided 
with a liberal supply of green food. 

Keep up a continual war against lice. 

Some poultry raisers advocate sowing a patch of 
rape for young growing chickens. 

Oats sprouted to two or three inches makes excel- 
lent green food for winter. 

A male bird under a year old is termed a cockerel, 
while one over a year old is called a cock. 

A female bird less than a year old is a pullet; over 
a year old, a hen. 

A broiler should not weigh over two pounds and 
should be from six to twelve weeks old. 

A roaster weighs four or more pounds. 



94 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

A turkey under a year old is termed a poult. 

A capon is a male bird deprived of its generative 
organs. 

A female deprived of its egg organs is termed a 
poulard. 

One male and two females constitute a trio. 

From six to fourteen females and one male is usually 
termed a breeding pen. 

Thirteen hen's eggs constitute a sitting; however, 
some poultrymen give fifteen. 



LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 



95 



INDEX. 



Abdominal Dropsy, 46 

Abnormal Eggs, 62 

Abscesses, 74 

Air Sack Mites or Pneumomycoses, 23 
Air-slacked Lime a cheap disinfect- 
ant for yards 10 

Anaemia, (>^ 

Apoplexy, 5} 

Asthenia, _ 46 

B 

Bagging Down, 68 

Baldness, 78 

Black Head in Turkeys, J9 

Blood Within Egg, 6} 

Bowel Trouble in Chicks, _ Ji 

Bowels, Inflammation of, J4 

Brain, Congestion of, _ 52 

Broken Bones, 75 

Bronchitis 17 

Broody Hen, How to break up.. 91 

Bruises, 7} 

Bumble Foot, _ 74 

C 

Catarrh, Simple, and Cold, 12 

Catarrhal Stomatitis, 25 

Catarrh ofthe Crop, 28 

Causes of Diseases _8 

Cerebral Congestion, 52 

Chicken-Pox, 7? 

Cholera, 41 

Cloacitis, 61 

Comb-Eating 86 

Congestion of the Lungs, 19 

Constipation, _ j6 

Corns, 74 

Cramps in Young Fowls, 70 

Crop-bound, 27 

Crop, Inflammation of, 28 

Crop, how to cut open 28 



Depluming, 



-79 



Diarrhoea, Simple, ,,..;..,'.■.•.•.",•--.•■■••• JI 

Diphtheria, 14 

Diseases of the Ovary,. . . _ 64 

Disinfectants, , 9 

Dropsy ofthe Feet,.. 72 

E 

Egg Bound, 60 

Egg-Eating, 85 

Eggs, howformed _ 57 

Eggs without Shell, _ 6j 

Eggs with Two Shells, 64 

Emphysema, _ 68 

Enteritis, .-. .... 34 

Epilepsy, 53 

Ergot Poison, _ 6? 

F 
Favus, 78 

Feather-pulling, 84 

Feather-eating, 84 

Feeding for Eggs 89 

Feeding Young Chicks 87 

Feeding and Caring for Young 

Turkeys, _ 88 

Female Organs, their Anatomy and 

Physiology, 57 

Fits, Si 

Food Lodged in Trachea or Wind- 
pipe, 23 

Fumigating, how best done _..io 

Fumigating with Carbolic Acid 22 

Frost Bites, _76 

G 

Gapes, 20 

Gastritis, 29 

Gastro-Intestinal Catarrh, .31 

Germs and Disinfectants, 9 

Germs, conditions favorable to their 

development 9 

Germs, how to prevent and destroy. 9 
Green Food Essential...... _ 8 



96 LEHMAN'S POULTRY DOCTOR. 

INDEX. 



Grit, Why Necessary 8 

Going Light, 46 

H 

Heart, Rupture of, 50 

Hepatitis, j8 

Hospital, _ II 

I 

Impaction of the Crop, 27 

Impoverished Blood, 66 

Incubation of Egg in Hen,_ 63 

Indigestion, 29 

Infectious Entero-Hepatitis,_ 39 

Inflammation ofthc Lungs, 19 

Inflammation of the Oviduct, 58 

K 
Kidneys, Inflammation of,„ 55 

L 

Large Eggs, 62 

Laryngitis, 17 

Leg Weakness,. 69 

Lice, 80 

Lice mistaken for Cholera .. .82 

Limber Neck, _ 47 

Liver, Congestion of, 37 

Liver, Inflammation of, j8 

M 

Male Organs and their Diseases 56 

Mange, 79 

Mating, time required to insure 

Pure and Fertile Eggs 92 

Medicine, how given _ S 

Medicine, how measured 8 

Mites, _ 80 

Moulting, How to Hasten_ 91 

N 

Nephritis, 55 

Number of Hens that should be 

Mated with one Male 92 

O 
Obstruction in the Throat, 26 



P 

Paralysis of the Crop,_ 27 

Paresis, 51 

Pericarditis, 49 

Peritonitis, _ '.. 46 

Pip 25 

Pneumonia, 19 

Pneumomycoses, 2} 

Poultry Houses, location of, from 

a sanitary point 10 

Prolapsus of the Oviduct, 58 

Ptomaine poison, _ 47 

R 
Requirements Essential to Health,. .10 

Rheumatism, 69 

Rickets in Young Chicks, 71 

Roup and Diphtheria, .. _ 14 

S 

Scaly Legs,. 80 

Simple Catarrh or Cold, 12 

Small or Incomplete Eggs, 62 

Sore Mouth, 25 

Spraying with coal oil for Catarrh, ij 

T 

Things to be Remembered, 9J 

Treating Diseases, the first step 8 

True Digestive Stomach or Provcn- 

tricnlus .29 

Tuberculosis, 66 

Two Yolk Eggs, 62 

V 

,Vent Gleet, 6l 

Voice or Crowing Organs, loca- 
tion of 2 J 

W 

Where do Lice come from, .81 

White Comb, . 78 

Wind-pufl=", 68 

Worms, 44 

Worms or Parasites in Eggs, 6} 

Wounds, - 7J 



?rOPY, DFt . TO CAT otv. 

NOV 111 - ^^ 



